After repeated disruptions and adjournments, the Lok Sabha is slated to take up the crucial Food Security Bill and other key legislations for discussion and passage on Monday.
To ensure smooth business in the House after the Speaker last week suspended 12 MPs, who were protesting against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the Congress has issued a three-line whip to all its members to be present for the entire week.
Congress MPs have been asked to be present in the House and support Government business on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Parliament will not have a sitting on Wednesday due to Janmashtami, sources said.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has threatened that AIADMK would not vote in favour of the Food Bill if the changes suggested by her were not incorporated.
In a statement issued in Chennai on Sunday, Jayalalithaa said: “The Bill that will be moved in Parliament, with the partial changes, is not acceptable. The AIADMK will vote against the Bill.”
She said she had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday raising various issues regarding the Bill, such as ensuring that the present allocation of foodgrains to the State under the Public Distribution System is not reduced, increase in urban coverage and concurrence with States on provisions like direct cash transfer and food coupons.
Political parties such as BJP, CPI(M), Biju Janata Dal etc., have already submitted 265 amendments to the Food Bill.
Other Bills
The other major legislations that may come up for consideration this week are the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2011 and the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Rehabilitation Bill, 2012.
Both the Food and Land Bills are being seen by the Congress as ‘game-changers’, whereas the Opposition, while broadly supporting these Bills, have flayed the Government for timing these to ‘catch votes’.
Five States are due for polls this year-end and the general elections are due next year.