Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday sought support from all parties for the Government’s legislative business, including Food Security Ordinance, during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning Monday.
But despite his optimism about a constructive and productive session, it may not be a smooth sailing for the Government as Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, BJP and other parties are planning to corner it on deteriorating economic situation, contentious FDI decisions, confrontation between CBI-IB, Telangana fuelling demand for smaller States in other region, mishandling of disaster in Uttarakhand, coalgate and other scams.
At an all-party meeting convened by lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, the Prime Minister lamented that time has been wasted due to repeated disruptions during the last few sessions of Parliament and urged Opposition to cooperate in passing the UPA’s game changer Food Security Bill, land Acquisition Bill and other pending legislations.
In view of the doubts expressed by Opposition over ambitious plan listings 44 Bills for passage during the short session with just 12 effective days of working, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said the Government is ready to even extend the month long session. He also rejected SP’s suggestion that heavy legislative agenda indicated that it is the last session before lok Sabha polls.
However, SP and Trinamool said that they will staunchly opposed to Telangana creation and demanded an assurance that that the government would not allow further division of states as being demanded by BSP for Uttar Pradesh and Gorkha Jan Morcha in West Bengal. SP will also oppose the Food Bill on grounds of it being anti-farmer though BJP said it will support it with some amendments.
However, both BJP, SP and Trinamool will attack the government over differences between CBI and IB evident during probe into Ishrat Jahan encounter case and mishandling of relief and rehabilitation in Uttarakhand. The opposition will jointly attack the government over overall economic situation and declining value of rupees, but would support it wholeheartedly in passing legislations negating the recent SC judgements debarring jailed politicians from contesting elections and forcing those convicted to quit their office.