The Hindu Business Line : Stormy monsoon session ahead

The monsoon session of Parliament beginning Monday, July 24, marks the UPA Government reaching the half-way mark of its normal term. Every government enjoys what is called "the honeymoon period" when the Opposition does not come down too harshly on the Treasury Benches. For the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, however, the Opposition was unrelenting from Day 1, led as it was by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, no doubt smarting from the loss of power in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

The NDA's belligerence brooked no parliamentary niceties, of allowing the Prime Minister to reply to the motion of thanks to the President's address or be in the House for the end-of-session valedictory addresses by the presiding officers.

Allies too on warpath

Given this background, the monsoon session promises to be stormy for the Manmohan Singh Government. What is galling to the Treasury Benches is the fact that not just the Opposition but also its supporters from outside, such as the Left parties, have threatened to haul the UPA over coals on a number of issues ranging from price rise to escalation of terrorist violence in recent months.

The month-long session is being held in the grim background of the serial blasts in Mumbai with the nagging suspicion of Pakistani hand in the incidents, agitations by Opposition as well as Left parties over price rise and an atmosphere of doubts and fears over the India-US nuclear deal. The BJP is said to be preparing for a bitter battle through an adjournment motion on the very first day in the Lok Sabha. The motion will be on what it calls the `failure' of the government in combating terrorism with particular reference to the 7/11 Mumbai and Srinagar blasts. It is also apparently planning an adjournment motion in the Rajya Sabha on the rising prices.

The BJP has expressed its opposition to re-introduction of the Office of Profit Bill in its present form. Interestingly, the Government is still holding its intentions on the Bill close to its chest, though the Congress is clear there is no question of any changes to the original Bill. The legislation — the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill — was returned by the President, Mr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, after its passage in the Budget session. He has called for "comprehensive and generic" criteria. He wants the criteria to be "fair and reasonable" and applicable in a "clear and transparent" manner across States and Union Territories.

In effect, he has also questioned the very basis of identifying "offices of profit", showing his concern that it should not be arbitrary. The government is really in a piquant situation where it does not want to be showing disregard to the views of the Head of State even while being unwilling to climb down from its stand on the legislation. Loaded with politics, the Bill is bound to ignite emotions on both sides when it is brought before Parliament with or without changes.

The other `grist'

A Bill to remove certain "ambiguities'' in the Right to Information Act, 2005, to make it more effective and progressive, is to be introduced during the session. It has officially been stated that file noting in a `few areas' could be exempted. Among other political issues that would give grist to the Opposition mill is the Mukherjee Commission report on the mystery surrounding the death of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. A discussion on the report, tabled during the Budget session, is bound to embarrass the Government, as it would have to answer questions such as why certain files on Subash Bose were destroyed during the Congress governments of Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

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