The UPA government plans to introduce 30 Bills and hopes to expedite the passage of 39 pending legislations during the budget session. The budget session began here today with the Presidential address.
As the Opposition parties moved notices to corner the government on a number of issues including black money, Lokpal Bill, corruption and agrarian crisis, the government tried to walk the extra mile and sought cooperation from all parties for a smooth conduct of Parliament session.
Talking to reporters here, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said the government was confident of its majority in the House for a smooth running of the budget session. He said the government was ready to discuss and debate all issues on the floor of the House.
“I think dealing with pressure is part of the parliamentary life. I am confident that we have all the numbers that are needed,” Dr Manmohan Singh said. “We are willing to discuss and debate all issues on the floor of the House. I appeal to all the political parties to work together and cooperate in meeting the challenges,” he added.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal said the House will get sufficient time to transact essential legislative and non-legislative business during the session. He said 40 Bills, including the Finance Bill 2012, could be taken up for consideration and passing.
The government has listed legislations such as the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, the land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, the Electronic Delivery of Services Bill, the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill, The Banking laws Amendment Bill, the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill and the Women’s Reservation Bill.
He said about 200 amendments moved to the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha during the winter session had lapsed. He claimed that members have started giving amendments afresh to the controversial Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha but could not be voted and passed in the Rajya Sabha due to opposition from NDA, Left, some regional parties and UPA’s ally Trinamool Congress.
“One member has moved some amendments. I believe some others may also do so. Even the government will have to move amendments afresh. These will have to be examined before taking them up for discussion,” Mr Bansal said.
However, the BJP has questioned this claim. The principal Opposition party said the amendments are still valid. Talking to reporters, the Opposition leader in Rajya Sabha Mr Arun Jaitley, said the BJP has moved a notice to discuss the Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha suspending the question hour. He said all the amendments moved by MPs are still valid. “I will move a motion for suspension of Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow for discussion on Lokpal Bill,” Mr Jaitley said.