The Winter Session of Parliament beginning Monday could see a great deal of fireworks with the Government being determined to pass several key legislations that form the cornerstone of its economic agenda and the Opposition gearing up to block most of these measures and aggressively flag its concern over black money, alleged saffronisation of education and communal tension in several part of the country. Several Opposition parties on Sunday decided to oppose the Insurance Bill though the Congress has so far not assured them of any support.
The boycott of an all-party meeting by the Trinamool Congress on the eve of the Winter Session of Parliament may be a precursor to an all-out offensive by the party against the Government over alleged misuse of the CBI. The BJD could back the TMC’s case since its leaders are also being probed by the central agency in the chit fund scam. The Samajwadi Party also skipped the all-party meeting.
The Nanavati Commission’s report on Gujarat riots, repeated incursions by Chinese Army, a series of accidents involving Naval vessels, Shiv Sena’s demand for a special package for Maharashtra in parts of the State facing a drought-like situation and the AAP’s demand for a package for Punjab farmers are also some of the issues likely to be raised.
After the meeting, JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi alleged “betrayal” by the Government on its key promises made in the run-up to the lok Sabha polls, including bringing back black money stashed abroad in foreign banks and payment of 50 per cent bonus to farmers on the production cost of their crops.
“The CPI(M), JD(U), SP, BSP and Trinamool Congress will oppose the Insurance Bill. The Congress should support it if the Oppositions’ larger unity is to be showcased. We will also give a ‘big no’ to the amendment in land Acquisition Bill and will oppose changes in MNREGA,” he said.
Estranged NDA ally Shiv Sena raised the comfort level of the Government with its leader Sanjay Raut declaring that the party would support the Government at the Centre and the political developments in Maharashtra will have no bearing on their relationship at the Centre.
“Since we are in the NDA at the Centre, we will support the Government’s functioning. We will be with the Government as we have been so far and will go by the priorities of the Government,” said Raut, who is the leader of the Shiv Sena in the Rajya Sabha.
In his opening remarks at the all-party meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said that the Government will walk the extra-mile to accommodate concerns and suggestions of all parties to enable smooth functioning of both the Houses of Parliament. He also gave details of the 37 Bills that the Government is likely to move for introduction and taking up pending Bills for consideration and passing.
He made a specific reference to the need for early passing of Insurance laws Amendment Bill that seeks to enhance FDI limit in capital starved insurance sector by the Rajya Sabha. He also said that introduction of Goods and Service Tax (GST) is being discussed over a long time and the Government would like to introduce a Bill in this regard during Winter Session of Parliament.
Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured them that collectively all important issues can be taken up and hoped that the month-long Session will go “very well” like the last Budget Session, Naidu said after the meeting, which was attended by 40 leaders from 26 parties.
“The Prime Minister said that the Budget Session went on very well and was constructive and successful. We hope that the Winter Session will also be on the same lines,” Naidu said.
The political development during the last few weeks and realisation among the Opposition parties that they need to come under one umbrella in Parliament to take on the BJP, which has brute majority in the lok Sabha, could see them going for some sort of floor coordination on key legislative issues and matters to be raised for debate.
The left parties, TMC, JD(U), RJD, Samajwadi Party and BSP have decided to make a common cause against the Insurance Bill and asked the Congress to support them for the “larger Opposition unity”.
But the Congress has not so far revealed their stand. leader of the Congress in the lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, was ambivalent about the Insurance Bill, saying the party would first see what amendments the Government brings.
Naidu downplayed the Opposition move hoping that these parties will understand the mood of the nation and the spirit of the mandate of the people and cooperate with the Government.
“All Bills are our priorities. National agenda of development is to be given top priority. Investment, revival of the economy and improving the economic condition of the people are priority. Insurance Bill is one in that direction,” he said.
Naidu said that the Insurance Bill is in an “advance stage of finalisation” and since two members of the concerned Parliamentary Committee, have become Ministers, two new members would be inducted immediately and it would be requested to give the report by the end of the first week of the Session.
He also dismissed the reported charge of the TMC that it was not invited for the meeting and said that while he had spoken personally to that party’s leader, his deputy in Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Rajiv Pratap Rudy had written to the party informing about the meeting.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, notwithstanding reservations by some parties, has decided to go ahead with shifting the timing of the Question Hour from 11 pm to 12 pm from the upcoming Session in an apparent move to ensure disruption-free proceedings during this segment.
But the lok Sabha has no plans to shift the timing of the Question Hour. lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said on Saturday night that none of the leaders at the all-party meeting expressed any divergent views on her stand that the timing of the Question Hour -- which commences at 11 pm -- should not be changed.
Mahajan said starting the day with Zero Hour which often witnesses uproar could better be avoided, suggesting it was not a good beginning to the day’s proceedings.
Bracing for fireworks