Monsoon session of Parliament: Stormy week likely as govt to introduce bill to replace Delhi ordinance
Monsoon session of Parliament: A stormy week is likely as the government is set to introduce a bill to replace the Delhi ordinance.
The function of the Monsoon session of Parliament was hit by disruptions over the Manipur violence issue since it began on July 20. Now, it is anticipated that Parliament may see more turbulences with the government likely to introduce a bill in the Lok Sabha to replace the Delhi services ordinance.
The government listed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill in Parliament which became a rallying point for a united opposition against the BJP-led NDA.
Opposition to oppose the bill
The newly formed Opposition coalition - INDIA - announced that it will support Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the fight against the Centre's ordinance for the national capital.
Meanwhile, the government also listed 13 draft legislations for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha even as a notice for moving a no-confidence motion is pending before the House.
Amid the impasse in Parliament over the violence in Manipur and the opposition's demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement in the House, Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that he was ready to respond to a discussion in Parliament on the matter.
The opposition turned down the offer following which they moved a no-confidence motion against the government as a last bid to make the prime minister speak on the issue of Manipur violence in Parliament.
The Lok Sabha has passed five bills after brief discussions as opposition members raised slogans demanding the prime minister's statement on Manipur. The Rajya Sabha passed three bills, including the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, last week.
Listed bills in Lok Sabha
In the Lok Sabha, the government has listed The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Inter-services Organisation (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023; The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 and the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023 for consideration and passing.
It has also listed the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha, for approval in the Lok Sabha.
Besides, the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha first before being brought to the Lok Sabha. The Mediation Bill, 2021 is also awaiting the nod of the Upper House.
The Rajya Sabha is scheduled to take up the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Bill, the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, the Repealing and Amending Bill, The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, the National Dental Commission Bill and the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, which were passed by the Lok Sabha last week.
The opposition was also incensed at the government's approach of going ahead with its legislative agenda at a time when the Lok Sabha speaker has admitted the no-confidence motion.
RSP member N K Premachandran, quoting from M N Kaul and S L Shakdher's Practice and Procedure of Parliament, said, "When leave of the House to the moving of a motion has been granted, no substantive motion on policy matters needs to be brought before the House by the government till the motion of no-confidence has been disposed of."
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi dared the opposition to defeat the government bills on the floor of the House if they believe they have the numbers in the Lok Sabha.
"They have suddenly brought the no-confidence motion. Does that mean no government business should take place? If they have the numbers, they should defeat the bills on the floor of the House," the minister said on Friday.
(With PTI inputs)
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