NEW DELHI: On the eve of the winter session of Parliament, deputy leader of BJP in Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh sought cooperation from the Opposition for smooth conduct of proceedings even as leaders of various parties said they would seek discussions on issues like unemployment, inflation, border situation with China and alleged misuse of central agencies.
Leader of House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal and parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi were also present at the meeting attended by over 30 opposition leaders.
During the meeting, Joshi spelt out the government’s legislative agenda and said the meeting has note of all the issues raised by political parties and the discussions will be held as per the norms and procedures of Parliament.
In the three week-long session till December 29, the government plans to bring 16 new bills and push for the passage of 8 pending legislations.
In a separate meeting of the business advisory committee, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also sought the cooperation of all parties in ensuring that the House operates without disruptions.
In preceding Parliament sessions, the government has not allowed a discussion on the border situation with China and dismissed the Opposition’s charges that central agencies are being “misused”.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Dr Naseer Hussain of Cogress said the time allotted was not enough and demanded discussion on as many as 16 issues, from the falling rupee, decreasing exports and declining GDP growth rate to the Centre’s “attack” on the judiciary over the collegium issue.
Besides Congress, TMC, AAP and NCP underlined the need for a discussion on the alleged misuse of central agencies, apart from seeking clarity on the external threat to India’s security, rising pollution levels and the growing number of attacks on Kashmiri Pandits.
Results of the MCD polls on December 7 and the assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh on December 8 are also expected to cast a shadow over Parliament’s functioning in the opening week.
TMC leaders Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek O’Brien also sought discussions on price rise and unemployment while BJD’s Sasmit Patra demanded the passage of the long-pending women’s reservation bill. Patra’s demand was echoed by TMC, Congress, NCP and the TRS.
Shiv Sena’s Shinde faction sought a population control bill, while AAP’s Sanjay Singh demanded a discussion on the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and sought a law to ensure MSP for farm produce.
