NDA to discuss floor strategy in House

The 20-day session begins on Nov 26; fears of another washout session loom

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders would meet on Wednesday to discuss a Parliament floor strategy for what is expected to be a difficult winter session for the government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu would meet the leaders of all NDA allies at his residence to discuss government strategy on its legislative business and floor coordination.

The government is amenable to discussing issues of intolerance, for which Opposition parties have already moved notices, but anticipates a united Opposition to disrupt Parliament proceedings.

The 20-day session begins on November 26, with the first two days devoted to a discussion in both Houses on the contribution of B R Ambedkar.

Government sources said they would reach out to the Opposition on important legislative agenda — particularly the constitutional amendment for a goods and services tax — but were not hopeful of support.

Naidu will also hold a meeting with leaders of all Opposition parties within a week. Lok Sabha Speaker holds an all-party meeting a day or two before the session.

The Opposition is likely to raise the issue of intolerance, writers and others returning their awards, the Dadri lynching, price rise and Centre-state relations in a big way when the legislative business of the House begins from November 30.

Upping the ante on the issue of intolerance, Janata Dal (United) General Secretary K C Tyagi on Tuesday said the prime minister should signal his intent to act against people spreading the “venom” by removing five Union ministers, who made one or the other “provocative” remarks.

“The prime minister should remove Union Ministers Giriraj Singh, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Mahesh Sharma, V K Singh and Sanjiv Balyan. Only having a debate on the issue and passing a resolution is not enough. The PM should give the message that he means business by removing these ministers,” Tyagi told PTI.

A day after Bihar poll results announced the rout of Bharatiya Janata Party, the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh met on November 9 and decided to hold the session between November 26 and December 23.

Reaching out to the Opposition to pass key reform Bills, Naidu had urged them not to interpret the Bihar poll result as a “mandate to disrupt Parliament.”