New Delhi: Winter session of Parliament beginning Monday is all set to be a contentious affair with several Opposition parties deciding to oppose the Insurance Bill and corner the government on black money issue.
To ensure smooth running of the Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed an all party meeting on the eve of the Winter session.
PM Modi said his government will continue to talk to the opposition and other parties during the session. He expressed confidence that the session of Parliament beginning today will be as productive as the Budget session.
Modi also his referred to his Independence Day speech in which he had sought to give credit for work done during the budget session to both the government and the opposition.
"Unitedly, all important issues can be taken forward," he said.
The Winter session will continue till Dec 23 and will have 22 sittings.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday that the Government is more willing to work on the suggestions of the opposition parties.
"The Government has given a list of bills which we want to take up in this session of parliament. Members of different parties wanted to discuss certain other important issues of public interest. The Government is more than willing to work on the suggestions of the opposition parties," said Naidu after attending the all party meet held on Sunday.
Calling the meeting fruitful and meaningful, he informed that in both the houses of the Parliament, 26 political parties, 40 leaders were present in the meeting.
He further said, except the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) almost all political parties were present.
He also assured that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) issue is an important matter and will be addressed.
Adding to it he said that pros and cons of all aspects of Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) issue will be reviewed.
Moreover, reacting to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's allegations, Naidu said, "I request Mamata Banerjee to please understand that the Government has no role in the functioning of CBI."
Left parties, Trinamool Congress, JD(U), RJD, Samajwadi Party and BSP have decided to make a common cause against the insurance bill and asked the Congress to support them for the "larger Opposition unity".
Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, was ambivalent on support to the Opposition move against the insurance bill, saying the party would first see what amendments the government brings.
Kharge said: "The bills that are still pending specially women reservation bill, reservation in promotion for SC/ST in employment and amendment bill for atrocities on SC/ST need to be kept on the table again; we spoke about that in the meeting in front of PM Modi, and Venkaiah Naidu assured that the government will act upon it.”
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance and Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, Food Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, JD (U) leader KC Tyagi, NCP leader Tariq Anwar, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, DMK leader Kanimozhi, CPI leader D Raja, INLD leader Dushyant Chautala, amongst others.
After the meeting, JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi alleged "betrayal" by the government on its key promises made in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls including on return of black money stashed abroad in foreign banks and payment of 50 per cent bonus to farmers on the production cost of their crops.
"CPI-M, JD(U), SP, BSP and Trinamool Congress will oppose the insurance bill. Congress should support if Oppositions' larger unity is to be showcased. We will also give a 'big no' to the amendment in land acquisition bill and will oppose changes in MNREGA," he said.
Estranged NDA ally Shiv Sena raised the comfort level of the government with its leader Sanjay Raut declaring that the party would support the government at the Centre and the political developments in Maharashtra will have no bearing on their relationship in Centre.
Naidu gave details of 37 bills on the government's agenda including the bills for introduction and those for consideration and passage. The bills relate to a series of issues including promotion of investments, improving ease of doing business, cooperatives, strengthening of regional rural banks, higher education, imposing stiffer penalties on hijackers, replacing coal ordinance and promoting ethical practices in bio-medical and health research on humans.
Urging members to cooperate in the passage of the bills, Naidu said Parliament needs to send out "a right message through appropriate legislations" in the context of "enhanced global interest in economic development of the country".
He said that the prime minister has always desired that Parliament functions in a bipartisan spirit to enhance the public perception about parliamentary institutions.
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