MUMBAI: The opposition prevented HRD Minister Kapil Sibal from moving the Copyright Amendment Bill, 2010 in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, alleging that he had ‘conflict of interest’ and was violating norms under Parliament’s Ethics Committee.
Even before Sibal could move the Copyright Amendment Bill, 2010, for consideration, members from BJP, JD-U, AIADMK, BSP and TDP rose on their feet saying the minister cannot introduce it since his lawyer son represented Super Cassette Industries, a market leader in the music industry, states PTI.
Shivanand Tiwari (JD-U) said,” According to Rule 294 of Parliament’s Ethics Committee, a member having direct or indirect interest in a matter cannot move a bill… He has conflict of interest.”
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He was supported by BJP members including S S Ahluwalia and Prakash Javadekar besides members from other parties including AIADMK.
Though Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal came in support of Sibal, the Opposition did not allow him (Bansal) to speak despite Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan’s repeated pleas.
“His (Sibal’s) son is independent as a lawyer. This is not in good taste. This is rather unparliamentary,” Bansal said.
Amid the ruckus, Khan adjourned the House for 15 minutes. When the House re-assembled, he adjourned it for the day as the protesting members did not relent. Khan said there was no logic behind their protest as the minister has not even stood up to move the Bill.
The proposed Bill is very crucial for the Indian film, music and broadcasting industry as it seeks to amend the Copyright Act, 1957 to fine-tune it with relevant international treaties and to introduce a system of statutory licensing to protect the owners of literary or musical works.
