HYDERABAD:The ongoing budget session of Parliament will take up six ordinances from Monday for discussion to convert them into Bills, according to Union parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu.
The Ordinances to be taken up include Citizenship (amendment) bill-2015; mines and minerals (development and regulation)amendment ordinance; ordinance on insurance bill; motor vehicles(amendment) ordinance, 2015; coal ordinance; and e-rickshaw bill.
Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Naidu said that though there would be a discussion on the railway budget and general budget and other public issues in the Houses, the priority of the government would be to get these six ordinances converted into bills. Defending the promulgation of ordinances by his government, Naidu said as development through enhanced ease of doing business and by promoting investments was the need of the hour, the Centre had to issue some ordinances.
“The need of the hour is to play out politics of development, not pitching politics against development. It is now time to evolve a consensus on the politics of development by collectively endeavouring to raise the conscience of our political class in favour of development for the benefit of the people,” Naidu said.
Stating that the coal ordinance was also a very important legislation, the Union minister said since it was helping the country get revenue the government was trying to amend it for easing the business. “The government has already got over Rs 1 lakh crore from the auction of 18 coal mines and we have 204 mines to be auctioned. It is the most honest and transparent method of auctioning coal blocks,” he said. On BJP’s stand on Article 370 which guarantees special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Naidu clarified that there was no change. Refuting the allegation that BJP had compromised on the issue to form a coalition government with the People’s Democratic Party, Naidu said, “We stand where we are and we will.”
Stating that there was no question of accepting PDP’s stand, he said, “Why will they accept our stand and why will we accept theirs? The PDP-BJP coalition in J&K would move forward on issues where there is consensus.”
Venkaiah Naidu said his party was very optimistic about the coalition government formed in J&K. “This is a happy occasion. For the first time in the country’s history a coalition government has been formed in J&K with the BJP as a partner,” he said.
LAND ACQUISITION
Stating that the NDA government was committed to the land acquisition ordinance, Naidu said they were however open to considering meaningful suggestions from the Opposition on it.
“As far as land acquisition ordinance is concerned, the government is committed to it. But, if meaningful suggestions come from political parties, definitely they will be considered and we are there to protect the interests of the farmers,” Naidu said.
He said that since most of the states are against the Land Acquisition Act in the present form, the Centre had brought in the ordinance. “Union ministers are holding discussions with various parties and I have also spoken to AP and TS chief ministers seeking their support for the bill and they have given positive response,” he claimed.
The Ordinances
Citizenship (amendment) bill-2015
Mines and minerals (development and regulation)amendment ordinance
Ordinance on insurance bill
Motor vehicles (amendment) ordinance, 2015
Coal ordinance
e-rickshaw bill