Parliament’s Monsoon session begins today, BJP set to corner UPA
New Delhi: The month-long Monsoon session of Parliament will begin on Wednesday. The Opposition is all set to corner the government on a range of issues. On Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to move for a suspension of the Question Hour to discuss the Kokrajhar violence.
The riots in Assam, which have led to over 70 deaths in the state so far, could generate a lot of heat with both the Congress and the opposition expected to indulge in charges and counter charges. The BJP has already said that it will bring an adjournment motion over the ongoing riots.
“Assam violence is a result of the Congress’ attempts to change the state’s demography. The BJP wants a discussion on Assam first when the session starts. The government lacks direction and leadership,” BJP leader Arun Jaitley told on tuesday.
The opposition parties have also said that they would raise the spectrum and coal bloc allocation scams along with the controversial Aircel-Maxis deal. They also plan to corner the government over the handling of the Railway portfolio by the Trinamool Congress, especially in the context of the recent Tamil Nadu Express accident.
Pune blasts and the collapse of the power grid in the North and the East are also amongst other issues that are likely to be raised.
With the monsoon playing truant in several parts of the country, the focus would also turn to the drought situation amid demands for a national water policy and a better deal for farmers.
Some of the other issues the opposition plans to raise are FDI in retail, corruption and Centre-state relations.
The session will be a test for the new Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who has been made the Leader of the Lok Sabha following the exit of Pranab Mukherjee, who became the country’s President last month.
CHIDAMBARAM MEETS TOP BJP LEADERS
Ahead of the Monsoon Session, Finance Minister P Chidambaram met BJP top leaders LK Advani and Arun Jaitley on Tuesday in what is being described as a “courtesy call.”
The BJP-led opposition is likely raise the issue of the 2G spectrum auction in Parliament today. The party is also likely to target Mr Chidambaram and the government on the Aircel-Maxis deal. In the previous sessions of Parliament, the BJP had asked Mr Chidambaram to quit over the issue.
The government hopes to take up 31 bills for passage in the Monsoon session. Of these, the finance related bills are The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, and the Companies Bill.
The controversial Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill will also be taken up for passing.
The Lokpal Bill, which has been referred to a Rajya Sabha select committee, is unlikely to come up in this session.
This session will be a test for the new leader of the House, Sushil Kumar Shinde, who has replaced Pranab Mukherjee, who was the chief troubleshooter for the UPA for eight long years. With the TMC making it clear that they will oppose anything on FDI or opening up of the pension sector to foreign investment and other friends of the government too opposing FDI openly, Shinde clearly has tough road ahead.
