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The government has worked overtime to keep its reforms agenda on track by steering crucial legislative business in the Rajya Sabha, where it is short on numbers. While it acceded to Opposition demands and sent the mines and coal Bills to separate panels of the Rajya Sabha, it did so on the understanding that the panels would submit their reports by March 18, in time for these to be cleared before the House goes into a month-long recess.
The ordinances that the Bills seek to replace are slated to lapse by April 5. As for the insurance amendment Bill, to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, the government is drawing solace from the fact that the Congress will not vote against the Bill, as the amendment was first brought in under the United Progressive Alliance regime.
While the government heaved a temporary sigh of relief at some headway on its legislative business, the land acquisition Bill continues to be a concern. As the Opposition has said it isn’t willing to come on board on this issue, the government isn’t bringing it to the Upper House this week. Sources said as the government fears the Bill is likely to go to a select committee, it is trying to secure the support of its allies, as well as that of smaller Opposition parties.
The government has been working to clear six ordinances promulgated prior to the current session of Parliament. The citizenship Bill has already been cleared by both Houses.
Faced with a united Opposition on Tuesday, the government had no option but to agree to send the mining Bill for scrutiny by a select committee. The composition of the committee and the time it would take to study the Bill were decided at a meeting on Wednesday morning.
Both the 19-member select committees (on the mining and coal Bills) are headed by members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The panel on the mines Bill is led by Bhupender Yadav and that on the coal Bill is headed by Anil Madhav Dave.
With the Opposition succeeding in getting its way, members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) withdrew the statutory motions on the mines and coal Bills.
A senior Congress Rajya Sabha member said, “We, the Opposition, have tasted victory twice in a period of 10 days. We sent two Bills to select committees, where dissent notes will have to be taken note of.” On the insurance Bill, the Congress said its “concerns have been addressed, so we don’t see why we should oppose it.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu tweeted, “Happy that the deadlock ended in the Rajya Sabha. Parliament functioning smoothly.” The BJP is hopeful of getting the coal and mines Bills passed before Parliament breaks for recess on March 21, to meet again in mid-April.
Opposition parties, meanwhile, joined hands against the land Bill. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has proposed a ‘Parliament to Rashtrapati Bhavan’ protest march before the Parliament breaks for recess. Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav has been entrusted with coordinating between various Opposition parties, including the Left parties, in this regard. The government is trying to reach out to the Biju Janata Dal and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to drum up support for the land Bill.
The ordinances that the Bills seek to replace are slated to lapse by April 5. As for the insurance amendment Bill, to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, the government is drawing solace from the fact that the Congress will not vote against the Bill, as the amendment was first brought in under the United Progressive Alliance regime.
While the government heaved a temporary sigh of relief at some headway on its legislative business, the land acquisition Bill continues to be a concern. As the Opposition has said it isn’t willing to come on board on this issue, the government isn’t bringing it to the Upper House this week. Sources said as the government fears the Bill is likely to go to a select committee, it is trying to secure the support of its allies, as well as that of smaller Opposition parties.
The government has been working to clear six ordinances promulgated prior to the current session of Parliament. The citizenship Bill has already been cleared by both Houses.
Faced with a united Opposition on Tuesday, the government had no option but to agree to send the mining Bill for scrutiny by a select committee. The composition of the committee and the time it would take to study the Bill were decided at a meeting on Wednesday morning.
Both the 19-member select committees (on the mining and coal Bills) are headed by members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The panel on the mines Bill is led by Bhupender Yadav and that on the coal Bill is headed by Anil Madhav Dave.
With the Opposition succeeding in getting its way, members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) withdrew the statutory motions on the mines and coal Bills.
A senior Congress Rajya Sabha member said, “We, the Opposition, have tasted victory twice in a period of 10 days. We sent two Bills to select committees, where dissent notes will have to be taken note of.” On the insurance Bill, the Congress said its “concerns have been addressed, so we don’t see why we should oppose it.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu tweeted, “Happy that the deadlock ended in the Rajya Sabha. Parliament functioning smoothly.” The BJP is hopeful of getting the coal and mines Bills passed before Parliament breaks for recess on March 21, to meet again in mid-April.
Opposition parties, meanwhile, joined hands against the land Bill. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has proposed a ‘Parliament to Rashtrapati Bhavan’ protest march before the Parliament breaks for recess. Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav has been entrusted with coordinating between various Opposition parties, including the Left parties, in this regard. The government is trying to reach out to the Biju Janata Dal and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to drum up support for the land Bill.
