by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Govt, Oppn deadlock continues
Budget session begins today: No disruption, but no Bills either in first part
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Feb. 22
Even as the government and two presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are working hard to ensure a fruitful Budget session beginning tomorrow, a united Opposition is turning out to be a big headache.
According to all indications, the Opposition is unlikely to allow any government business to be transacted other than the presentation of Rail and Union Budgets, at least in the first part ending March 16. Several crucial bills including the GST, Real Estate and Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment, may be taken up only in the second half of the session after the recess on April 25. The mood of the Parliament in the second half will, obviously, be decided as per the outcome of Assembly poll results in five states.
The Jat reservation agitation and unabated violence came at the worst time for the Modi government which is already struggling with unrest at the JNU and University of Hyderabad. The only saving grace for the BJP is that it does not have to bring before the House proclamation imposing President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh now that a new government has been installed.
But the government has to ensure the passage of the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill as an Ordinance has already been issued by the President and the Parliament has to adopt it. There are disputes on the Bill. But the government has made it a finance Bill and then it may not need the Rajya Sabha's majority approval. The IPA parties are strongly opposed to the Bill. The government is aware that two previous sessions had been a washout. Therefore, it wants to ensure a smooth sailing in the Budget session. The fact that parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu specially convened an all-party meeting this morning fully knowing that Speaker of the Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan has called a similar meeting in the evening, is a reflection of government desperation. Venkaiah Naidu said the government is ready to discuss any issue in Parliament and made an appeal that legislative business be allowed to be transacted. Sumitra Mahajan, on her part, did not want any disruption in the House and sought the cooperation of all the parties. Last week, the Prime Minister also took the unusual step by holding an all-party meeting which was followed by another meeting by chairman of the Rajya Sabha Hamid Ansari. On the Jat reservation issue, Venkaiah Naidu said he would hold discussions on the issue once the situation is normalised. "Party has formed a committee but normalcy should return first, as we can only debate and analyse about all the issues when situation is normal," Naidu said.
Top Priority Bills
The GST Bill
The Enemy Property (Amendment & Validation ) Bill
The Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Amendment Bill
The Anti-Hijacking Bill
The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill
The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill
The Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill
The National Waterways Bill
The Bureau of Indian Standards Bill
The Whistle Blower protection (Amendment) Bill
The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill
The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill
The Indian Institute of Management Bill
