Ansari calls meet to ensure smooth session in Rajya Sabha

Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari has convened a meeting of leaders of all political parties on Saturday to ensure smooth functioning of the Budget Session of Parliament beginning next week.

The Saturday meeting is a follow up of informal talks Ansari had on Wednesday with some Union ministers and leaders of the Congress to explore the possibility of having some legislative business  in the Upper House that has been the battleground for the Opposition and the government.

There was some understanding between the BJP and the Congress on taking up some non-contentious legislation for consideration and passing after discussions on issues raised by the Opposition.

The Opposition plans to corner the government on the arrest of JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, the suicide of Rohith Vemula, government’s handling of the drought situation and the state of the economy, among other issues.

The government plans to move a bill that provides voting rights to people who became Indian citizens after the exchange of enclaves with Bangladesh, it also has to replace the Enemy Property Ordinance with a Bill.

The NDA government is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha where the Congress is the single-largest party. Last year, the government faced embarrassing moments in the Rajya Sabha when the Opposition forced an amendment to the Motion of Thanks to the President for his address to the joint sitting of both the Houses.