The Government faces the daunting task of getting two of its most crucial Bills passed in the Parliament this week when it introduces the controversial land Acquisition Bill for amendment in the lok Sabha and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill (122nd Constitutional amendment Bill) in Rajya Sabha on Monday. The GST Bill was passed by the lok Sabha last week.
As per the list of Business of the lower House, there will be no Question Hour on Monday. There are seven Bills listed in lok Sabha out of which two are for introduction and four are listed for passing. The day will begin with the introduction of much-awaited Whistleblowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015, followed by the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Second Bill, 2015.
Besides, the Appropriation Acts (Repeal) Bill, the Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill, 2015 to make provisions for dealing with undisclosed foreign income and assets, the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2015, the National Waterways Bill, 2015, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2015 are listed in lok Sabha for passing over the next three days. The lok Sabha has been extended by three more days to complete the Government’s legislative business.
However, the actual challenge the Government floor managers face is on the land Acquisition Bill and the GST Bill. Government sources said that the land Acquisition Bill may eventually be headed to a Standing Committee. But on the GST Bill, the Government is somewhat comfortable as it has indications for support from several political parties.
And even though the principle Opposition party Congress is seeking Standing Committee scrutiny, the Government has managed to win over support of parties like Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Biju Janata Dal.
In such a situation, Congress leaders in Rajya Sabha are working on ways to scuttle the smooth passage of the GST Bill. The Congress plans to revive its demand for sacking Union Minister Nitin Gadkari over a CAG report alleging financial irregularities by his Purti Group. The Opposition parties had successfully managed to disrupt Rajya Sabha proceedings on Friday.
Meanwhile, an error in the land Boundary Agreement Bill with Bangladesh will bring the Bill back to Rajya Sabha. When introduced, the Bill was numbered as the 119th Constitution Amendment Bill, but when passed, it became the 100th Constitution Amendment Bill. Though several Constitution Amendment Bills are introduced, the number of those passed by the Parliament is few. This had created the confusion over numbering.
Though an official amendment was carried out in the short title of the legislation, but due to an oversight, it could not be carried out in the Schedules of the Bill. Hence, the Parliament will again go through the process of passing this Bill, first in the Rajya Sabha and later in the lok Sabha.
Apart from these, the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2014 and Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 is also listed in the Rajya Sabha for passing. Clearly before the Budget Session winds up and the Government gets into anniversary celebration mode, it would like to have as many feathers in its cap to show.