Winter Session of Parliament begins on Monday, likely to be a stormy affair

New Delhi: Winter session of Parliament beginning on 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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing an all party meeting on the eve of the session, assured them that collectively all important issues can be taken up and hoped that the month-long session will go “very well” like the last budget session.

“The Prime Minister said that the budget session went on very well and was constructive and successful. We hope that the winter session will also be on the same lines.

“The Prime Minister said that Goverment is ready to take up all issues. With collective wisdom, issues of all parties can be taken forward,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said after an all party meeting not attended by Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party. 40 leaders from 26 parties participated in the meeting.

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.

Naidu downplayed the Opposition move hoping that these parties will understand the mood of the nation and the spirit of the mandate of the people and cooperate with the government.

“All bills are our priorities. National agenda of development is to be given top priority. Investment, revival of the economy and improving the economic condition of the people are priority. Insurance bill is one in that direction,” he said.

Naidu said that the insurance bill is in an “advance stage of finalisation” and since two members of the concerned Parliamentary committee, have become ministers, two new members would be inducted immediately and it would be requested to give the report by the end of the first week of the session beginning tomorrow.

He also dismissed the reported charge of the Trinamool Congress that it was not invited for today’s meeting and said that while he had spoken personally to that party’s leader, his deputy in Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Rajiv Pratap Rudy had written to the party informing about the meeting.

PTI