Govt pushes for passage of Bankruptcy code this week; early end to session

Fireworks in RS over Augusta Westland, Trinamool MP suspended

Senior government strategists said the government was keen that Parliament complete the discussion on and passage of the general budget, passes the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and takes a vote on ratifying the ordinance on imposition of President’s Rule in Uttarakhand by the end of the week.

If things go according to plan, the government is likely to recommend an end to the current session a week before its scheduled close on May 13. Much would depend on whether the opposition allows the Rajya Sabha to transact business in the next couple of days.

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On Monday, the chair suspended Trinamool Congress member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy for persistently raising the AugustaWestland issue after the chair had rejected his notice.

Roy demanded the government reveal the names of ‘Gandhi’ and ‘AP’, as revealed in the handwritten notes of the accused in the case. Trinamool members boycotted the House for the entire day, after Chairman Hamid Ansari suspended Roy.

Suspecting a closing of ranks between Trinamool and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress members disrupted the proceedings to demand a discussion on the Comptroller and Auditor General report on anomalies in Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC)’s K-G Basin gas project.

The government initially rejected the demand but junior parliamentary affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi later told the House they'd abide by the decision of the chair on the issue.

A discussion on AugustaWestland is scheduled in the Rajya Sabha for Wednesday, with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar slated to reply. Congress’ Shantaram Naik has moved a breach of privilege motion against the government for issuing official press releases on Westland when Parliament is in session and the House is yet discuss the matter.

The Congress hopes the government would show a ‘give and take’ approach and also have a discussion on the GSPC issue.

On Monday, the Rajya Sabha, despite the disruptions, passed the Mines and Minerals (Regulation & Development) Amendment Bill.

As for the government’s push to advance the end of the session, it has two reasons. First, it isn’t left with any substantive legislative agenda where it might hope for Congress support, particularly in the Rajya Sabha where it is in a minority. Second, Kerala and Tami Nadu go to polls on May 16 and the attendance of members is likely to be low, as several will be campaigning in these two states in the last week of the session, from May 9 to 13.

In a meeting of the business advisory committee, Naqvi suggested an early end to the current session if the two Houses wrapped up the financial business and take a vote on the Uttarakhand ordinance. Lack of opposition numbers in the Rajya Sabha might even help the government secure an unlikely victory in that House on Uttarakhand.

Government sources said the ‘Guillotine’ will be applied on Tuesday, with the Finance Bill to be taken up the next day and the reply of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday. The minister, who will be in Frankfurt on Wednesday, is said to be keen that the Lok Sabha takes up the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code on Thursday itself. The government is hopeful of it being passed, as a joint committee of MPs has recommended taking all proposed amendments on board, with no dissent notes.