Tweet
Confident of its numbers, Govt lines up slew of Bills
Notwithstanding ally DMK coming out in open declaring its opposition to FDI in multi-brand retail, the Government is confident of surviving a no-confidence motion and plans to bring the contentious Lokpal and banking and insurance sector reform Bills in Parliament’s Winter Session starting on Thursday while leaving out the populist Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition Bill for a later stage.
Home Minister and Leader of the House in Lok Sabha Sushilkumar Shinde said on Tuesday that the Government is “not afraid as we have numbers” and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath taunted Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee saying that the Government need not count its numbers just because a former ally with 19 MPs is threatening to bring the no-confidence motion.
Congress incharge of West Bengal Shakeel Ahmad asked Mamata to explain to secular voters of West Bengal about her “tacit understanding” with BJP on the no-confidence motion.
Though taking heart from the fact that Trinamool was isolated at the meeting of chief whips with no other party coming in support of its decision to bring the no-confidence motion, the Government is wary of the Left Parties and the NDA coming together to try and force a debate on FDI under rule 184 that entails division of votes to embarrass the Government, which is in minority on the issue.
This reluctance of Government was evident from Nath reiterating that there is no precedence of an executive decision being challenged under rule 184 and termed the March 2001 decision when House voted on BALCO disinvestment during NDA regime as a “singular issue and not policy or framework decision” like FDI in retail.
Nath said that though a unanimous decision is not possible, the Government will make efforts for constructive and fruitful debate to arrive at some consensus. The Government’s nervousness is understandable as 102 Bills are pending at various stages and it needs the Opposition’s support in running the House after the Monsoon Session got disrupted on Coalgate. The Opposition support will be crucial for passing the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill in the Rajya Sabha, where the UPA is in minority. The Select Committee has submitted the report and the Government has assured to pass it at the earliest.
Moreover, it would also need the Opposition help to pass 23 Bills which are listed, including Banking and Insurance reforms Bill, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, the Constitution Amendment Bill to provide reservation in promotion to SC/ST Government employees, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, and Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill. The long-pending Women Reservation Bill and many other pending bills relating to education sector are also in the listed for passage while 10 new Bills will be introduced.
“There is need for all political parties to work together when the country is facing a crisis and there are financial difficulties,” Shinde said.
However, as part of the Congress strategy to bring a populist budget before going for Lok Sabha polls, the much awaited Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition Bill has been left for the Budget Session.
Notwithstanding ally DMK coming out in open declaring its opposition to FDI in multi-brand retail, the Government is confident of surviving a no-confidence motion and plans to bring the contentious Lokpal and banking and insurance sector reform Bills in Parliament’s Winter Session starting on Thursday while leaving out the populist Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition Bill for a later stage.
Home Minister and Leader of the House in Lok Sabha Sushilkumar Shinde said on Tuesday that the Government is “not afraid as we have numbers” and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath taunted Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee saying that the Government need not count its numbers just because a former ally with 19 MPs is threatening to bring the no-confidence motion.
Congress incharge of West Bengal Shakeel Ahmad asked Mamata to explain to secular voters of West Bengal about her “tacit understanding” with BJP on the no-confidence motion.
Though taking heart from the fact that Trinamool was isolated at the meeting of chief whips with no other party coming in support of its decision to bring the no-confidence motion, the Government is wary of the Left Parties and the NDA coming together to try and force a debate on FDI under rule 184 that entails division of votes to embarrass the Government, which is in minority on the issue.
This reluctance of Government was evident from Nath reiterating that there is no precedence of an executive decision being challenged under rule 184 and termed the March 2001 decision when House voted on BALCO disinvestment during NDA regime as a “singular issue and not policy or framework decision” like FDI in retail.
Nath said that though a unanimous decision is not possible, the Government will make efforts for constructive and fruitful debate to arrive at some consensus. The Government’s nervousness is understandable as 102 Bills are pending at various stages and it needs the Opposition’s support in running the House after the Monsoon Session got disrupted on Coalgate. The Opposition support will be crucial for passing the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill in the Rajya Sabha, where the UPA is in minority. The Select Committee has submitted the report and the Government has assured to pass it at the earliest.
Moreover, it would also need the Opposition help to pass 23 Bills which are listed, including Banking and Insurance reforms Bill, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, the Constitution Amendment Bill to provide reservation in promotion to SC/ST Government employees, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, and Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill. The long-pending Women Reservation Bill and many other pending bills relating to education sector are also in the listed for passage while 10 new Bills will be introduced.
“There is need for all political parties to work together when the country is facing a crisis and there are financial difficulties,” Shinde said.
However, as part of the Congress strategy to bring a populist budget before going for Lok Sabha polls, the much awaited Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition Bill has been left for the Budget Session.
