Govt seeks to push through a slew of Bills

Facing flak for a sliding rupee and a looming economic crisis, govt is desperate to move some long pending financial legislations, such as Pension Bill

On the heels of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh criticising the Opposition for disrupting Parliament, thereby holding up legislative business and eroding investor confidence, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government plans to push through a slew of Bills this coming week. The monsoon session of Parliament has been extended by five days, till Friday.

Whether the PM’s holding the Opposition squarely responsible for interrupting legislative business will help the government get the food security Bill and the land acquisition Bill past the Rajya Sabha is to be seen. These two Bills have been passed by the Lok Sabha.

Facing flak from all quarters for a sliding rupee and a looming economic crisis, the government is now desperate to move some long-pending financial legislations, including the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2011. Also on the agenda is legislative clearance for the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA)  regulations to help roll out foreign direct investment in multi-brand retailing.

While the government is keen to see both Houses function so that its pending business can be cleared, obstructions due to issues such as Telangana — as happened last Friday — need to be tackled.

According to Congress sources, the Bharatiya Janata Party will support the pension Bill because the government has agreed to their demands. Ditto with the FDI cap of 26 per cent and assured returns to subscribers.

However, no confirmation is forthcoming from the Opposition on the insurance Bill, which seeks to raise the FDI limit in the sector to 49 per cent.

The priority Bills for the UPA in the monsoon session were the “game-changer” legislations such as the food security Bill and the land bill, which will be taken up in the Rajya Sabha this week.

The other big item on the Upper House’s agenda is the FEMA regulations to enable the rollout of FDI in multi-brand retail. With industry keenly looking towards Parliament for its final nod on this, the government wishes to push it through.

Another priority for the government is to get the controversial Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2013 passed.

The Bill seeks to shield political parties from coming under the ambit of the RTI and disclosing their source of funding. Political parties across the spectrum have indicated they will support the RTI amendment Bill and the Lok Sabha could take this up on Monday itself.

Also on the agenda is the Bill for Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill, 2012. While this has been there in the list of business for the Lok Sabha for some time, it is yet to be taken up.