Convergence Bill referred to parliamentary panel

The Communication Convergence Bill, 2001, which was introduced in Parliament on the last day (last Friday) of the monsoon session, has been referred to a standing committee attached to the communications ministry.

The referral took place yesterday and according to sources the left party CPM’s Somnath Chatterjee is heading the committee. This is being seen as a hurdle to quick movement on the bill as he is expected to go through the bill with a fine tooth comb.

The sources expressed surprise that the bill was not referred to a select committee (which would have allowed the government to pack the panel with its supporters).