More than 70 items, including 16 new Bills, are part of the Government’s business for the Budget session of Parliament. The session, which will have 34 sittings in two laps, will begin here on Thursday.
Briefing reporters, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said the Government was ready for discussions on any issue to ensure that the House functions in a smooth manner.
Nath said the Government would try to introduce 16 Bills. This includes the Agricultural Bio Security Bill, the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, the Regional Rural Banks Bill and the Building and Construction Workers Related Laws (Amendment) Bill.
Three ordinances, such as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Amendment) Ordinance and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance will also be taken up by the House.
The pending Bills include the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Lokpal Bill and Reservations in Promotions Bill. The Minister said the Government would try to build consensus for the passage of these controversial legislations.
The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill has also been listed by the Centre for consideration and passing in Parliament. He said parties were divided over legislations such as the Land Acquisition Bill and the Food Security Bill and the Government was holding talks to find a way for their passage.
Earlier, Nath held a meeting with the chief whips of all parties. While the Bharatiya Janata Party demanded an unconditional apology from Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde for his remarks against the party, the CPI (M) said the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien should be asked to resign from the post till the legal proceedings in the Suryanelli gang rape case are completed.
There were demands from the parties to discuss the issue of decontrol of diesel and sugar prices, the scam in VVIP helicopter deal and the rise in the prices of essential items.
Nath said the Government was willing to discuss all such issues, and added that the Centre was open for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the chopper deal “if it satisfies everybody”.