The Hindu Business Line : Stormy session ahead?

As Parliament begins its monsoon session today, the Opposition as well the Left partners of the UPA Government are determined to bring to centre-stage the “unanswered questions” in the Indo-US civil nuclear deal. The BJP has demanded the setting-up of a joint parliamentary committee to examine the text of the 123 Agreement with the US. It will also raise the issue of exodus of non-Kashmiri migrant labourers from Jammu and Kashmir and demand that the Government ensure they get adequate security. The Left also has many questions to raise on the deal.

The Samajwadi Party, which faced embarrassment during the presidential poll because of the mess created by constituents of the third front in carrying out its decision to abstain from voting, has said it will ensure its presence is felt in Parliament. The party feels the Indo-US nuclear deal will result in mortgaging India’s sovereignty and has charged the Congress-led UPA government with pledging to Washington the country’s self-reliance.

The Third Front, formally called the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), is highly critical of the deal, saying the UPA government has “mortgaged” the nation’s sovereignty. The Telugu Desam Party, part of the eight-party alliance that failed to pull together during the Presidential poll, may raise the issue of police firing in Andhra Pradesh. The Left parties and some others are expected to raise a discussion on the devastation caused by the recent floods in various parts of the country.

Unorganised sector

Meanwhile, the government has made bold to say the long-awaited Bill to benefit the unorganised sector will be introduced during the session. It seeks to provide social security to workers in the unorganised sector and establish a National Advisory Board to design suitable welfare schemes for these workers who constitute over 90 per cent of the 40-crore work-force. However, it is doubtful if the Bill will be tabled on the first day of the session as promised, as it will take time to incorporate the recommendations of the Group of Ministers to whom the Bill was referred after pressure from the Left. The CPI has called it “a complete mockery” and says it will oppose it if it is brought to Parliament in its present form.

Bills hanging fire

Among the items of legislation hanging fire for some time is the controversial Broadcasting Bill. Private broadcasters have apprehensions about the government’s proposal on cross-media restrictions, self-regulation guidelines and content audit. The Bill also seeks to establish an independent broadcasting regulator. Despite the government’s anxiety to introduce the Bill, it is unlikely that it will happen in this session. Altogether, there are 25 pieces of legislation, old and new, on the agenda.

With relations between the opposition and the UPA touching a low over past sessions, and especially during the presidential poll, it is likely the two will resort to washing more dirty linen in Parliament. Sadly, what is also likely to be washed out are structured discussions on serious issues and debate on crucial Bills having a bearing on the economy and social progress.

(The writer, a former deputy editor with PTI, is a New Delhi-based freelance journalist. Feedback can be sent to rajamanirc@gmail.com or rajamani_rc@yahoo.co.uk)