NEW DELHI: With the Winter session entering its last leg, the government will bring its pro-reform legislations in Parliament this week. The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to open up the sector to composite foreign investment cap of 49 per cent will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, while the Companies Bill will be taken up for discussion and passing in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Anti-Hijacking Bill will also be taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The Winter session will conclude on December 23. The government had to face embarrassment in both the Houses following offensive statements made by a BJP minister and an MP.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes to the House on Monday, the Opposition is again likely to raise the issue of conversion and offensive statements in the House.
The Trinamool Congress, whose state minister Madan Mitra was arrested by the CBI in Saradha case, is again likely to protest in Parliament saying the Centre was running a campaign against the West Bengal government. Party members had disrupted Parliament on many occasions during the last three weeks on multiple issue to corner the government.
Both the Congress and the TMC have been collaborating with each other to present a joint front in the Lok Sabha where Opposition members are few in numbers. The productivity of the Lok Sabha, despite several disruptions, during the last three weeks was at 99 per cent, while for the Rajya Sabha it was at 72 per cent, according to the think tank, PRS legislative.
“Question Hour functioned in the Lok Sabha for 77 per cent of the allotted time, while it functioned in the Rajya Sabha for 32 per cent of the allotted time. At least 63 questions were orally answered in the Lok Sabha during the first three weeks, while 35 questions were orally answered in the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha has already passed 13 Bills, and the Rajya Sabha passed nine Bills in the last three weeks of the Winter session.
The Rajya Sabha will also take up four Bills passed by the Lower House - the Appropriation Bill, 2014, Payments and Settlement Systems (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Repealing and Amending (Second) Bill, 2014, and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2014. The Lok Pal and Lok Ayuktas (Amendment) Bill, 2014, is also proposed to be taken in both the Houses.
Among the other Bills likely to be brought by the government for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha during the rest of the session include the Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill, 2014, the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Bill, 2014.
The Lower House will also discuss the issues of ‘food adulteration’ and MNREGA on Monday.