Political muscle-flexing intensified on Sunday as the Samajwadi Party threatened to derail the Food Security Bill and the BJP prepared to mount pressure on the Government to replicate its “Chhattisgarh model” of food security at the national bill.
“This Bill is not acceptable to us in its present form. If need arises, we would even vote against it,” SP leader Naresh Agrawal told reporters. The SP had diluted its reservations about the Bill after a meeting between party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and PM Manmohan Singh last month. This had come amid report that CBI was all set to close the DA probe against Mulayam.
The SP chose to surprise the ruling coalition a day after Congress chief Sonia Gandhi wrote to the PM asking the Government to ensure that suspended UP IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal was not ‘unfairly’ treated.
The BJP also decided to seek changes in the UPA’s draft Bill and incorporation of the provisions of the Act already in force in Chhattisgarh. However, unlike the SP, it is “in principle” supporting the Bill.
“In principle, we are in agreement with this (Food) Bill, but we have a lot to say. There is a Chhattisgarh model. Then there is the interest of the farmers. We have to put in a lot of suggestions, amendments,” BJP deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
After a meeting of BJP’s Parliamentary Party Executive, Prasad said there were several concerns, including what would happen to the existing PDS system and the financial implications of implementing the new law. The BJP also plans to raise Telangana and CBI’s clean chit to former Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.
A meeting of NDA leaders later in the evening also decided to raise all issues of “national interest”, but decided to cooperate with the Government in legislations where there has been an agreement between the two sides.
The Government has a heavy agenda for the Monsoon Session, beginning Monday. About 40 Bills have been listed for consideration and passage in the Session, which will have only 12 working days and Government has expressed readiness to extend it if need be.
The PM has already sought Opposition’s cooperation in the passage of the legislative business, including the “most important” Food Security Bill. Promising to discuss all issues raised by the Opposition, Singh has hoped that the session which will conclude on August 30 will be “very constructive and productive”.
There has not been any assurance from the Opposition. Only on Saturday, Finance Minister P Chidambaram reached out to BJP for support to key reform Bills on opening up the insurance and pension sector, but failed to get assurance.
Chidambaram had a discussion with BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Yashwant Sinha on the financial Bills that have been listed for consideration.
The BJP leaders agreed to support routine and necessary financial business but indicated that the party will continue to oppose further opening of the insurance and pension sectors to foreign direct investment (FDI).Suhma Swaraj has demanded a debate on the current economic situation in the backdrop of the declining rupee, rising prices and slowing GDP growth.
Amid turbulence in Gorkhaland after the decision on Telangana, the Trinamool Congress wanted a statement by Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde that now no new state will be carved out cautioning otherwise “India will burn”.
Several parties, including DMK and Trinamool, RJD, JD(U) have raised the issue of judiciary “interfering” in the work of legislatures and expressed concern over “erosion” of Parliament’s supremacy.
There have also been demands that the National Judicial Commission Bill, which seeks to lay down a new criteria for appointing judges, be brought for consideration and passage in this session itself.
Some parties have also sought amendment of the Constitution to rectify the recent SC orders, including on barring persons behind bars even for a day during polls to contest and reservation in AIIMS faculty.