The Hindu : National : MPs have heavy agenda in winter session

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 01, 2004

National

National

MPs have heavy agenda in winter session

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV 30. The winter session of Parliament, beginning tomorrow, is bound to test the resolve of the political parties to ensure its smooth functioning. On the eve of the session today, there was enough sabre rattling to suggest that the session will be far from a tame affair.

The MPs have a heavy agenda, which they have to dispose off within 17 working days. The winter session is scheduled to adjourn on December 23, though the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, today said that Parliament could meet after the Christmas break if it had any unfinished business.

Bills to be introduced

The Government plans to introduce 46 Bills during the session most of which are likely to be referred to the respective Standing Committees. According to Mr. Azad, priority would be given to the six Bills seeking to replace the ordinances promulgated during the inter-session period. Besides the Bills, the Government also has some financial business lined up, such as discussion and voting on the Supplementary Demands for Grants for the General and Railway budgets for 2004-05. Among the important pieces of legislation listed is the long-awaited Lok Pal Bill.

Mr. Azad requested the Opposition parties to cooperate in the smooth functioning of the House. He said the Government was prepared to discuss all issues approved by the Business Advisory Committee. He also appealed to the media to highlight the positive issues raised by the MPs.

Speaker's initiative

The Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, held an hour-long meeting with the leaders of parliamentary parties this afternoon. After the meeting he told the media that he had assured the leaders that he would allow discussions on all national and international issues raised by them, provided they were within the rules.

However, judging by the mood of the main Opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Samajwadi Party, which is supporting the Government from outside, the Treasury benches are likely to face a rough time in the House. "We intend to raise issues aggressively, assertively, offensively," said the Deputy Leader of the BJP parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha, V.K. Malhotra.

Range of issues

The BJP has already filed 65 notices demanding a discussion on a host of issues, ranging from price rise (to be raised during Zero Hour tomorrow), the arrest of the Kanchi Shankaracharya, the re-induction of Shibu Soren into the Cabinet, the charges and counter charges between two senior Ministers in the Government and the internal security situation. The BJP will also oppose the Bill to replace the Ordinance repealing the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).

On the price rise, the BJP could demand a discussion under rule 184 entailing a vote "to call the bluff of the Left parties and see which way they vote," Mr. Malhotra said, adding that his party had written to the Speaker seeking permission to move an adjournment motion on the charges of corruption levelled against each other by the Railways Minister, Lalu Prasad, and the Minister for Steel, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Ram Vilas Paswan.

"The Prime Minister owes an explanation. It is unheard of that two Ministers level such serious charges against each other. He must explain what steps he is taking on the issue," said Mr. Malhotra.

SP also critical

The Samajwadi Party has also been critical of the tussle between Mr. Prasad and Mr. Paswan and the "failure" of the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to rein them in. The deputy leader of the party, Ramji Lal Suman, told mediapersons this afternoon that his party would also raise the price rise issue in Parliament even if it meant being on the same side as the BJP.

The Left parties, though not expected to join hands with the Opposition, would raise the issue of price rise insisting that this was "not a BJP issue but the people's issue. If the BJP says the same thing that we are saying on the issue that does not mean that we are supporting them," said Basudeb Acharia, CPI(M) leader in the Lok Sabha.

The Communist Party of India leader, Gurudas Dasgupta, said that his party would raise the issue of hike in prices of essential commodities. Mr. Acharia said besides this issue, the CPI (M) and other Left parties would pursue the issues of disinvestment of public sector units, problems of farmers and workers and the public distribution system, among others.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National