The Government will hold an all-party meeting in the first week of August to elicit views of political parties on contentious issues like bringing them under the RTI ambit and the recent Supreme Court judgements related to MPs, MlAs and MlCs.
Chief Information Commissioner’s directive to bring political parties under RTI and Supreme Court’s judgments about instant disqualification of MPs/ MlAs convicted for more than two years and debarment of jailed politicians from contesting elections are likely to be deliberated at the meeting.
Most of the parties have voiced their opinion against coming under RTI and the Government is also not at ease. But it wants to take formal opinion of parties before bringing a Bill in this regard during the Parliament Session starting on August 5 so that the Congress alone does not receive flak for going against the CIC decision aimed to bring transparency in the political system.
Earlier, the law Ministry had drafted an Ordinance for it but since some parties like BJP were against taking the route and the dates of Monsoon Session was also announced. The Congress Core Group has thus decided to bring a Bill in Parliament
Moreover, some move to counter the Supreme Court judgements will also be deliberated as most political parties apprehend that in the name of decriminalising politics, the court has given a tool in the hands of their political rivals to debar them from contesting.
The contentious Telangana issue is also likely to come up at the meeting. The Congress has indicated that it will soon formulate its views on creating a separate State for which a Congress Working Committee meet is also likely to be held by July end.
The Government will also urge Opposition to support the Bill replacing the Food Security ordinance in Parliament. It is also likely to seek support of Opposition, especially BJP, for contentious economic reform bills concerning Pension and Insurance sector to improve the sagging economy.