Too short a time for Cong to table key bills

As Parliament begins its brief winter session on Thursday, it would be the last chance for the government to get approval for key legislations such as the one to grant statutory status to the nuclear regulator and another to regulate the biotech sector.

The top priority for the government during the session, which has 12 sittings, would be to get the financial bills passed in Parliament besides the much-anticipated legislation to carve out Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh.

In the 38 bills listed by the government for consideration of Parliament during the winter session, which is set to conclude on December 20, include the Constitutional Amendment Bill to ratify the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh and the one granting reservation in government services to SCs/STs.

The government has also announced its ambitious plans to push for the Women’s Reservation Bill, as also the Prevention of Communal Violence Bill. Political parties are sharply divided on the two bills, with the Samajwadi Party threatening to disrupt Parliament if the government makes attempts to push the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Similarly, the BJP is expected to find support from some regional outfits in its opposition to the communal violence Bill, which it contends, goes against the federal structure of the Constitution. Also on agenda are the Lokpal Bill, the Whistleblowers Bill, the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill and the Grievance Redressal Bill which form part of the UPA’s social sector reforms.

The government also has to find time to accommodate the Opposition’s wish list. The Opposition is expected to corner the government on price rise, problems of farmers and the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on 2G spectrum allocation scam.
The results of the Assembly polls in five states scheduled to be announced on December 8 and 9 are expected to find resonance in the session.