The Hindu Business Line : Can Parliament avoid a winter of discord?

THE signs are ominous. The gathering political clouds point to a winter session of Parliament not free from discord and discontent. By any reckoning, it is poised to be a politically heated session beginning December 1. Though parties have pledged cooperation to ensure a smooth session, politics is sure to dominate the proceedings, pushing legislative business to the backburner.

There are a number of issues for the Opposition to put the Government on the mat. An ominously potent issue is the arrest and treatment of the Kanchi Sankaracharya Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, though it is still a strictly State subject. But, then, this has never prevented members from raising such issues in Parliament in the past. Of course, it must be conceded, that it is difficult, under the federal polity, to make such distinctions.

The BJP has announced its decision to stage a protest demonstration on this issue outside Parliament House on the first day, thus setting the mood of the session. The rally is also to highlight what it calls the failure of the Government to check the prices of essential commodities, inflation and prices of petroleum products. The party spokesman, Mr V. K. Malhotra, said: "We will raise issues aggressively, offensively and assertively."

The BJP said it also plans to highlight such economic issues as inflation, unemployment and suicide by farmers in the Congress-ruled States. On the political front, it has planned to focus on the problem of internal security, especially relating to Jammu and Kashmir, the North-East and the Naxal-infested regions of the country. Another potent issue for it should be the re-induction of Mr Shibu Soren into the Union Cabinet; his evading arrest as a minister had given the BJP the excuse to stall proceedings for a number of days in the last session.

The Opposition's somewhat lukewarm commitment for cooperation in the smooth running of both Houses only serves to revive unpleasant memories of how the previous sessions of the 14th Lok Sabha got bogged down on divisive issues. Very little legislative business apart from the passage of a few Bills and the Finance Bill 2004 was transacted as the Opposition relentlessly stalled proceedings on one issue or the other in the previous two sessions. Now, at the pre-session all-party meeting, the Opposition appears to have made only a perfunctory pledge of cooperation without any serious intent to keep its word.

The Government may also face problems within the alliance. For, the Left parties, backing Government from outside, have virtually served notice on the Government that it would not be wise on its part to expect their unconditional support on legislative business. For example, they have warned the Government against `hasty passage' of amendments to the Indian Patents Act to make it comply with the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement.

"We are strongly of the opinion that any hasty passage of the Bill (amendments 2003), without any informed discussion, will not be in the larger interests of the country," the parties said in a three-page note submitted to the Government. It also expressed concern over the attitude of the Government in addressing the Left's sensitivities. At the all-party meeting, the leaders of the Left did not pull their punches and expressed their displeasure at the way the Government raised the prices of petroleum products and raised caps on foreign direct investment.

The CPI national secretary, Mr D. Raja, vehemently opposed the pre-session rise in rail freight rates, saying it would push up the transportation cost and have an all-round adverse impact. The UPA Government had not consulted the Left before deciding to hike these rates.

Against this none-too-good mood of the Opposition and its supporters from outside, the Government has made bold to unveil a heavy legislative business for the brief winter session. As many as 40 new Bills are slated for introduction, including the long-awaited Lok Pal Bill, the Bill to replace POTA as well as amendments to the Patents Act.

Among the economic Bills due for introduction and passing are the Banking Regulation (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, 2004; this is to enable the Reserve Bank of India issue licence to Multi State Cooperative Societies to carry on banking business. The Special Economic Zones Bill, 2004, providing for a long-term and stable policy framework for special economic zones. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2004, providing for a regulatory framework for the new pension system. The National Tax Tribunal Bill, 2004 and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, 2004. The last Bill was extracted by the Left parties. The legislation is also a commitment made in the UPA's Common Minimum Programme.

The BJP does not think much of the legislation and has raised questions about the generation of funds required for the massive scheme. The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram's bland statement that "we will find the funds when we pass the Bill in Parliament" appears to lack any measure of economic conviction. More so, as it comes from a relentless fighter against the fiscal deficit regime.

The Samajwadi Party, on its part, has asked the ruling United Progressive Alliance to put its house in order, clearly indicating the Government cannot expect much support from the party.

Yet, the Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr Somnath Chatterjee, is optimistic. "Everybody assured me that both Houses would run properly and the meeting was held in a cordial and excellent atmosphere. I have been greatly encouraged by the promise made by all the senior leaders to cooperate and ensure that both Houses function in a normal manner," he said

About the Opposition view that the session is too short, the Speaker said: "It is for the government to take a decision in this regard." However, according to Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, the session can be kept open and if need be (the Houses) can meet after December 25. Last year Parliament had met from December 2 to 23 and again from December 29 to January 5.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mr L. K. Advani, pointed to a resolution passed at a conference of parliamentarians, highlighting the need for Parliament to meet for at least 110 days a year.

To last only 17 days, it will be an uphill task for the Government to complete all the slated business in the winter session even in the best of circumstances. With divisive issues poised to take precedence over serious discussion on people's problems, it is difficult to imagine legislative business getting the better of politics and polemics on extraneous matters.

(The author, a former Deputy Editor with PTI, is a New Delhi-based freelance journalist. Feedback can be sent to rajamani_rc@yahoo.co.uk)