Deadlock continues in Parliament; Govt to take Ordinance route on Insurance, GST Bills?

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Dec 19, 2014:  Friday is not likely to be any different from the last four days in the Rajya Sabha. With the government not ready to concede to Opposition’s demand seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply to a discussion on the conversion row, it is highly unlikely that any business would be transacted in the Upper House.

 

PM Modi, who sat in the Rajya Sabha for about 44 minutes yesterday, did not say anything. His ministers made it amply clear that while the government was ready for a discussion on the matter, the reply would be given by the minister concerned, in this case Home Minister Rajnath Singh. But, with a united Opposition sticking to its demand for PM’s reply, the debate on the matter could not even be started.

After repeated adjournments, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien was forced to say “I am helpless” and adjourned the House for the day.

When Rajya Sabha reconvenes at 11:00 am today, not much is expected to change unless the government climbs down from its stand in a bid to save the remaining three days of the Winter Session. Several key bills are pending, including the Insurance Bill and the Bill on GST.

For PM Modi, whose main priority is to revive the Indian economy, both bills are crucial. But in the Upper House, the government needs the support of the Opposition to pass bills as it lacks numbers.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, speaking in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, had hit back at the Opposition saying “it was not the arrogance of the government but the arrogance of the numbers (of Opposition)”.

In such a scenario, it is likely that the government may take the Ordinance route on Insurance and GST. And sources too suggest that the government is thinking on the same lines.

 

Courtesy: Zeenews