By George Joseph, IANS,
New Delhi : The Lokpal bill, uncontrolled inflation, corruption… a slew of issues will play out in the month-long winter session of parliament beginning Tuesday and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government will be hard put to put up a strong defence of its omissions and commissions.
Political circles are keenly awaiting developments on the Lokpal bill. Team Anna has threatened to launch another agitation if a “strong Lokpal bill” is not passed.
Inflation is likely to lead to fireworks, with the opposition – both the Left and the right – closing ranks. An adjournment motion will be moved on the opening day, Communist Party of India’s Gurdas Dasgupta has said.
Lok Sabha opposition leader Sushma Swaraj has said that her Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) wants a discussion on price rise and black money.
The government will also face heat over corruption.
A leader of the Janata Dal-United, which is part of the NDA, said on condition of anonymity that the opposition alliance has “collected a lot of material to expose the government on the 2G (spectrum) issue, especially the role of Home Minister P. Chidambaram when he was finance minister”, as well as black money stashed away in foreign countries.
“UPA-II has been on the defensive on issues of corruption and inflation for more than a year. The winter session will test whether the alliance can recover ground and move forward,” Mridula Mukherjee, professor in New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), told IANS.
For firefighting, the Congress-led UPA is expected to field its key troubleshooter, Finance Minister Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is leader of the house in the Lok Sabha.
Though the Lokpal bill is listed as the first among 31 bills for “consideration and passage”, the Congress is adopting a cautious approach saying the bill is before the standing committee.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has said her party favoured “an effective, strong Lokpal bill”.
Indications from the standing committee are that it will finalise the bill by Dec 7.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, chairman of the committee, has said that the committee had reached near consensus on 10-12 major issues but did not comment on reports that there were differences on bringing the prime minister under the Lokpal.
Political circles feel the government will try to avoid a confrontation with Team Anna, which has threatened to campaign against the Congress in the assembly polls next year if a “strong Lokpal bill is not passed”.
Two other key bills to fight corruption – the whistleblowers bill and the judicial accountability bill – are also scheduled for passage.
But another key bill – the land acquisition bill – will not be taken up. The standing committee could not reach a consensus on it.
The companies bill, the pension regulatory and development authority bill, and the mines and minerals development bill will also come up for passage.
The women’s reservation bill, passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2009, is listed for business in the Lok Sabha. But this may just be a ritual.
Some regional issues expected to find an echo in the session include the demand for a Telangana state, the Mayawati government’s decision to divide Uttar Pradesh into four states and the blockade-hit Manipur.
Following is a list of important bills expected during the winter session of parliament from Nov 22 to Dec 21.
Bills for consideration and passing:
1. Lokpal Bill, 2011
The bill aims to set up an anti-graft ombudsman to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries. Anna Hazare, who has gone on fast twice this year for a strong Lokpal bill, has threatened to resume his protest if the bill is not passed in the winter session.
2. Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010
The bill aims to lay down judicial standards and establish a mechanism for dealing with complaints of misbehaviour or incapacity of a judge of the Supreme Court or a high court. It also aims to make provisions for declaration of assets and liabilities by the judges.
3. Seeds Bill, 2004
The bill aims to provide for regulating the quality of seeds for sale, import and export and to facilitate production and supply of seeds of quality.
The bill faces opposition from the Left parties, the Samajwadi Party and the Telugu Desam Party besides farmers’ lobbies who allege it favours MNCs involved in the marketing of seeds.
4. Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2011
The bill aims to establish a statutory Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to promote old age income security by establishing, developing and regulating pension funds and to protect the interests of subscribers to schemes of pension funds.
The union cabinet recently allowed 26 percent FDI in pension fund.
5. The Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2010, as passed by Rajya Sabha
The bill, seeking 33 percent reservation for women in parliament and state legislative bodies, was passed in the Rajya Sabha last year amid high drama that saw suspension of seven members who violently disrupted house proceedings.
However, it was not passed by the Lok Sabha due to strong opposition from the Yadav trio — Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad (Yadav) and Janata Dal-United president Sharad Yadav, who seek reservation for Dalit, backward caste and minority community women within it.
Bills for introduction:
1. National Food Security Bill, 2011
The big ticket legislation of UPA-II seeks to cover up to 75 percent of the rural population and 50 percent of urban households, proposing a right to seven kilograms of foodgrain per person, at Rs.3 per kg for rice, Rs.2 per kg for wheat and Re.1 per kg for coarse grain to priority beneficiaries. It also aims at revamping the public distribution system, which provides subsidised rations to the beneficiaries.
2. Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2011
The bill may suggest changes in procedures relating to attachment and confiscation of property. It may also bring in more entities and a new category of offences having cross-border implications.
3. Nuclear Regulatory Authority Bill, 2011.
The bill aims to establish an authority for regulation of nuclear safety and achieving highest standards of safety based on a scientific approach, operating experience and best practices followed by the nuclear industry. It also aims to ensure that the use of radiation and atomic energy in all its applications is safe for the health of radiation workers, public and the environment.
The bill further aims to establish a Council of Nuclear Safety to oversee and review the policies relating to radiation safety and nuclear safety.
4. Railway Protection Force (Amendment) Bill, 2011.
The bill seeks to empower the Railway Protection Force to provide security on running trains. It also seeks withdrawal of Government Railway Police, whose personnel come from state police force, from railway premises and in dealing with crime cases, including drugging and robberies in trains and statio
(George Joseph can be contacted at [email protected])