Winter session from Monday likely to be stormy

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New Delhi, Nov 23, 2014: Winter session of Parliament beginning tomorrow is all set to be a contentious affair with several Opposition parties deciding to oppose the insurance bill and corner the government on black money issue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing an all party meeting on the eve of the session, assured them that collectively all important issues can be taken up and hoped that the month-long session will go "very well" like the last budget session. "The Prime Minister said that the budget session went on very well and was constructive and successful. We hope that the winter session will also be on the same lines.

"The Prime Minister said that Goverment is ready to take up all issues. With collective wisdom, issues of all parties can be taken forward," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said after an all party meeting not attended by Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party. 40 leaders from 26 parties participated in the meeting.

Left parties, Trinamool Congress, JD(U), RJD, Samajwadi Party and BSP have decided to make a common cause against the insurance bill and asked the Congress to support them for the "larger Opposition unity".

Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, was ambivalent on support to the Opposition move against the insurance bill, saying the party would first see what amendments the government brings.

Naidu downplayed the Opposition move hoping that these parties will understand the mood of the nation and the spirit of the mandate of the people and cooperate with the government.

"All bills are our priorities. National agenda of development is to be given top priority. Investment, revival of the economy and improving the economic condition of the people are priority. Insurance bill is one in that direction," he said.

Naidu said that the insurance bill is in an "advance stage of finalisation" and since two members of the concerned Parliamentary committee, have become ministers, two new members would be inducted immediately and it would be requested to give the report by the end of the first week of the session beginning tomorrow.

He also dismissed the reported charge of the Trinamool Congress that it was not invited for today’s meeting and said that while he had spoken personally to that party’s leader, his deputy in Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Rajiv Pratap Rudy had written to the party informing about the meeting.

After the meeting, JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi alleged "betrayal" by the government on its key promises made in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls including on return of black money stashed abroad in foreign banks and payment of 50 per cent bonus to farmers on the production cost of their crops.

"CPI-M, JD(U), SP, BSP and Trinamool Congress will oppose the insurance bill. Congress should support if Oppositions’ larger unity is to be showcased. We will also give a ’big no’ to the amendment in land acquisition bill and will oppose changes in MNREGA," he said.

Estranged NDA ally Shiv Sena raised the comfort level of the government with its leader Sanjay Raut declaring that the party would support the government at the Centre and the political developments in Maharashtra will have no bearing on thier relationship in Centre.

"The rumblings in Maharashtra (between the Shiv Sena and the BJP) will have no bearing on our relationship at Centre. We are with the agenda of the government. Since we are in NDA at the Centre, we will support the government’s functioning.
We will be with the government as we have been so far and will go by the priorities of the government," said Raut, who is the Leader of the Shiv Sena in the Rajya Sabha.

Raut’s statement is significant as Shiv Sena is sitting in Opposition in Maharashtra where BJP has formed a government with NCP’s backing.

"Let us see. Right now we are in the Opposition in Maharashtra and will play that role," he said to a specific question whether his party will participate in the Devendra Fadnavis governent.

In his opening remarks, Naidu said that Government will walk the extra-mile to accommodat concerns and suggestions of all parties to enable smooth functioning of both the Houses of Parliament.

He also gave details of the 37 Bills that the Government likes to move for introduction and taking up pending Bills for consideration and passing.

He made a specific reference to the need for early passing of Insurance Laws Amendment Bill that seeks to enhance FDI limit in capital starved insurance sector by the Rajya Sabha.  He also said that introduction of Goods and Service Tax (GST) is being discussed over a long time and the government would like to introduce a Bill in this regard during Winter Session of Parliament.