Stormy Winter session of Parliament set to begin from Thursday

The Winter session of Parliament will begin from Thursday, which is expected to be one of the stormy session owing to the debates on issues like Nandigram violence, Indo-US civil nuke deal and the problems faced by farmers.

New Delhi, Nov 14 : The Winter session of Parliament will begin from Thursday, which is expected to be one of the 'stormy' session owing to the debates on issues like Nandigram violence, Indo-US civil nuke deal and the problems faced by farmers.

The alleged wheat imports scam is also expected to generate a lot of heat in both the Houses of the Parliament.

The nuclear deal which paralysed proceedings during the monsoon session may not generate that much heat and a move is afoot for a discussion on the issue at the beginning of the session.

The Left Front had agreed to debate on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's August 13 speech on the 123-agreement. The BJP also had expressed their readiness to take part in the debate in spite of it being not held under clauses that would have entailed voting.

However with the Nandigram violence flaring up in recent days and the forceful 'recapture' of the area by CPI (M) cadres that has already got a support from West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the opposition BJP is likely to take the issue very strongly on the floor of the House. The Left parties, especially the CPI (M), which provides outside support to the UPA Government, may find itself, cornered on the Nandigram violence issue.

The government is expected to be pilloried by the opposition over problems faced by farmers including that of minimum support prices for paddy and wheat imports as well as rising prices, which was burdening the common man.

Meanwhile, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs P R Dasmunsi has said that 36 items and legislations have been identified for the coming session.

The list of the Bills that are scheduled to be introduced are:

1. The Indian Council of World Affairs (Amendment) Bill, 2007

2. The NEPA Limited (Disinvestment of Ownership) Bill, 2007

3. The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2007 (To replace an Ordinance)

4. The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2007

5. The National Highways Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2007

6. The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Union Territories) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2007

7. The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill, 2007 (To replace an Ordinance)

8. The Rehabilitation and Settlement Bill, 2007

9. The Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, 2007

10. The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007

11. The Authority for Advanced Rulings on Central Taxes (Amendment) Bill, 2007

12. The Central Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2007

13. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2007

14. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Second Amendment Bill, 2007

Another sixteen Bills will be considered for passing during this session that include:

1. The Indian Boilers (Amendment) Bill, 1994

2. The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2007

3. The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2005

4. The Payment and Settlement Systems Bill, 2006

5. The Tyre Corporation of Indian Ltd. (Disinvestment of Ownership) Bill, 2007

6. The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2007

7. The Labour Laws (Exemption from Furnishing Returns and Maintaining Registers by Certain Establishments) Amendment and Miscellaneous Provision Bill, 2005

8. The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2005

9. The National Jute Board Bill, 2006

10. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2007

11. The Sashastra Seema Bal Bill, 2007

12. The Armed Forces Tribunal Bill, 2005

13. The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Bill, 2007

14. The Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes University Bill, 2007

15. The Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2007

16. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2007

One Bill pertaining to the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Union Territories) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2003 will be considered for withdrawal.

Three financial items would be taken up in the session that include, discussion and Voting on Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2007-08 and related Appropriation Bill, Demands for Excess Grants (General) for 2005-06 and related Appropriation Bill, and Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railway) for 2007-08 and related Appropriation Bill.

Two non-legislative items will be considered for adoption that include the recommendations of Railway Convention Committee (2004) made in their Third Report and the recommendations of Railway Convention Committee (2004) made in their Sixth Report.

The Winter Session will conclude of December 7, 2007. The Session will provide a total of 17 sittings spread over a period of 23 days.

ANI