'BJP ready to support pension Bill'

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today declared the party would support the Pension Fund Regulatory Authority Bill if the government chose to table bring it in the Budget session.

"We had certain reservations with the Bill, like the employees must be given a choice on whether they want the government to invest on their behalf or want to do it themselves. The government has taken care of the matter," BJP spokesperson V K Malhotra said.

"Also, let's face it "" the Bill was brought in first when the NDA government had been in power," he added.

At the chief ministers' conference in New Delhi last week, all chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states had agreed to the government's version of the Bill.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had met state chief ministers for a consultation to break the deadlock over the proposed pension Bill.

As of now, according to the government, the greatest threat to the Bill comes not from the Opposition but from its Left allies.

The Budget Session is tentatively scheduled to begin on February 22.