New Delhi: As expected the winter session of Parliament got off to a stormy start on Tuesday even as the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government plans to pass 31 bills and introduce 23 others including the Lokpal Bill and the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill to counter the charge that it has been soft on tackling corruption.
The Government plans to pass two Bills every day during the 21 sittings spread over a period of 30 days of the winter session but a united Opposition came out all guns blazing on Tuesday to put the UPA on the mat.
The stage for the face off between the UPA and the Opposition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance was set on Monday after the later decided to boycott Union Home Minister P Chidambaram accusing him of being involved in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
"Evidence shows his involvement in 2G cases. We demand his resignation. There is no question of personal attack. We are attacking Chidambaram as a minister, not as an individual. He could have stopped this scam but he failed," said senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's resolution to divide the state into four, which was passed by a voice vote by the Assembly on Monday amidst protests by the Samajwadi Party, Congress and BJP, has added more fuel to the fire.
NDA's boycott of Chidambaram till he resigns over the 2G issue, rising prices, black money and demand for diving Andhra Pradesh to carve out a separate state of Telangana led to ruckus in the Lok Sabha on the first day of the winter session.
Senior BJP MP Advani is likely to move a notice on black money with the Left parties deciding to lend their support to adjournment motions on price rise and the economic situation. The party also plans to give notices for discussion on Telangana and Tamil Nadu fishermen problem.
The Lokpal Bill, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's recent comments calling UP migrants beggars, the cash-for-votes scam and the 2G issue have given enough ammunition to the Opposition to target the Government with.
On the other hand the Government hopes to counter it by slashing petrol prices, tabling the Lokpal Bill, the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill and the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010, which is commonly known as the Whistleblowers Bill.
High inflation is also going to be one of Government's bugbears even as it is open to discussion under Rule 193 which does not entail voting.
But with the Opposition hardening its stand, Parliament is likely to see more disruptions and adjournments, giving the Government a tough time in getting important Bills passed.
Anna Hazare and his associates have threatened to resume their anti-corruption agitation if the the Government fails to get a strong Lokpal Bill passed in Parliament during the winter session and that has put extra pressure on the Manmohan Singh regime to ensure the smooth functioning of the House.
Parliament's Winter Session 2011: Proposed Bills for Consideration and Passing
The Lokpal Bill, 2011
The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010
The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010
The Constitution (114th Amendment) Bill, 2010
The Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right to User in Land) Amendment Bill, 2010
The Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research Bill, 2011 (Passed by Lok Sabha)
The Seeds Bill, 2004
The Constitution (111th Amendment) Bill, 2009
The Pesticides Management Bill, 2008
The Damodar Valley Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2011
The Chartered Accountants (Amendment) Bill, 2010
The Cost and Works Accountants (Amendment) Bill, 2010
The Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2010
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2011
The Life Insurance Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2009
The New Delhi Municipal Council (Amendment) Bill, 2010
The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Bill, 2010
The Educational Tribunals Bill, 2010 (Passed by Lok Sabha)
The Institute of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2011 (Passed by Lok Sabha)
The National Institute of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2011 (Passed by Lok Sabha)
The Architects (Amendment) Bill, 2010
The Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2010
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Bill, 2010
The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Amendment Bill, 2010
The Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, 2010 (Passed by Rajya Sabha)
The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010
The Commercial Division of High Courts Bill, 2009 (Passed by Lok Sabha)
The Constitution (110th Amendment) Bill, 2009 (Commonly known as Women's Reservation Bill)
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2011
The National Commission for Heritage Sites Bill, 2009
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2010
Bill to be introduced, discussed and passed:
The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2011 (To replace an Ordinance)
Bills to be introduced:
The National Food Security Bill, 2011
The Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2011
The Electronic Delivery of Services Bill, 2011
The Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2011
The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provision) Second Bill, 2011
The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2011
The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2011
The Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Orders (Amendment), Bill, 2011
The Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill, 2011
The Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2011
The Warehousing Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2011
The Companies Bill, 2011
The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) Amendment Bill, 2011
The Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011
The North Eastern Areas (Reorganization) (Amendment) Bill, 2011
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2011
The Arms (Second Amendment) Bill, 2011
The Press and Registration of Books and Publications Bill, 2011
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2011
The National Highway Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2011
The National Sports Development Bill, 2011
The Nuclear Regulatory Authority Bill, 2011
The Railway Protection Force (Amendment) Bill, 2011
Financial Business:
Discussion and Voting on Second Supplementary Demands for Grant (General) for the year 2011-2012
Discussion and Voting on Second Supplementary Demands for Grant (Railways) for the year 2011-2012
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