New Delhi: Appearing ready for a confrontation with the Opposition, the BJP government on Monday decided to withdraw three crucial bills, including those on coal and insurance, on which ordinances were issued in December, in the Rajya Sabha where it lacks numbers, and introduce all six ordinances in the Lok Sabha. The Centre’s move triggered speculation that it might be considering convening of a joint session to pass these bills if the RS continues to be stalled.
The bills on coal mines, insurance and motor vehicles will be withdrawn from the RS on Tuesday, while the controversial Land Acquisition Ordinance will be tabled in the Lok Sabha. “There are two ways to interpret the move. One is that the government might replace these bills with fresh ones after incorporating the changes made in the ordinance. The other interpretation is that the government may wait and watch proceedings in the Rajya Sabha and go in for a joint session,” a source told Deccan Chronicle.
As the Budget Session began Monday, President Pranab Mukherjee sought the cooperation of MPs in the smooth conduct of Parliament, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended an olive branch to the Opposition, saying the government will pay heed to their views..
Delivering his address to a joint sitting of both Houses on the first day of the session, Mr Mukherjee also said that the government attaches “paramount” importance to safeguarding the interests of farmers and families that were affected by land acquisition, but gave no indication whether there would be any changes to the controversial Land Ordinance, which is facing the Opposition’s wrath.
The President’s comments on farmers and people hit by land acquisition comes in the wake of the widespread opposition to the Land Acquisition Ordinance, that made sweeping changes to the original bill passed in 2013 by the UPA-2 government. Not just political parties, even farmers’ associations have opposed the ordinance.
“My government attaches paramount importance to safeguard the interest of farmers and families affected by land acquisition,” he said, while not commenting on whether there would be any changes to the ordinance as speculated in political circles. The President also said while taking utmost care to protect the interest of farmers, including compensation entitlements, the Land Act had been suitably refined to “minimise certain procedural difficulties in acquisition of land inevitably required for critical public projects of infrastructure and for creation of basic amenities like rural housing, schools and hospitals, particularly in remote areas”.
He also listed various steps the government has taken in the past nine months on several fronts, including on the economy.
Mr Modi expressed confidence that the Budget Session will proceed in an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and there will be an opportunity to do some good for people. “In a democracy, discussion and debate should happen in this temple of democracy. Every subject should be discussed in detail. We hope that there will be a positive outcome of this debate, that will help the poorest of the poor,” he said.
That the Opposition was in no mood to support the ordinance was evident when the Congress gave a notice for the suspension of Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday to discuss the contentious measure, calling it “anti-farmer”. Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, who gave the notice under Rule 267 seeking suspension of Question Hour and a discussion on the ordinance, said the party cannot remain silent and was “bound to oppose” the measure.
Parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu urged the parties not to politicise the ordinance issue. “If they have any problem on the content of the ordinance, they are welcome to debate in Parliament... The government is ready to discuss any objection raised by the Opposition... Let Parliament decide. That is my humble request to all political parties,” he said.
