As winter session of Parliament begins today, Opposition set to corner govt

Agencies

New Delhi, 22 November 2011: It is day one of the winter session of Parliament and it’s all set to be a stormy one. The NDA has decided to target Home Minister P Chidambaram on the 2G issue and there are signs of the Left and Right coming together to corner the government on price rise and black money.

 

The Opposition maintains it won’t allow the Home Minister to speak until he agrees to step down over the 2G scam issue. Speaking to the media, BJP MP Chandan Mitra said, "It is now known that there was an attempt to cover up Mr Chidambaram’s role in the 2G scam and on every possible ground, he as no right to continue as a minister."

 

Meanwhile, the UPA plans to fight back by listing several bills for passage.

 

The Opposition is charged up with several issues against the government. The government realises that this session, too, is likely to be a repeat of the previous session which saw the government pushed to a corner by a combined attack by Team Anna and the Opposition.

The government is aware that the Opposition has got enough issues to hit out at the it, and so the government hopes to fight back by tabling bills to show its capability of governance.

 

The government targets at passing two bills a day during the 21-day winter session. 31 Bills are listed for passing and 23 for introductions.

 

The important bills slated are:

- Lokpal Bill

- Whistle blowers bill

- Judicial Standards Accountability Bill

- National Food Security Bill

- Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill

 

Apart from this, the government plans major policy decisions to register its governance, which include:

- FDI in multi-brand retail

- Foreign airlines investment in civil aviation

- FDI in pension

- New manufactury policy and companies law

- Changes in telecom policy

 

However, it’s unlikely that the Opposition will be placated or silenced.