Modi government vs Opposition: Stormy week in Parliament expected

NEW DELHI: This week in Parliament is unlikely to be very fruitful given the Opposition’s plans of pressing for a discussion on the charge levelled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against his predecessor Manmohan Singh and other Congress leaders of conspiring with Pakistan to defeat BJP in Gujarat assembly election. The government, however, hopes that some of the bills it has listed will be passed by Thursday.

With the counting of votes of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh taking place on Monday, both Houses are likely to be adjourned for the day without any substantial work.

The Opposition plans to seek suspension of all work and a discussion on the allegation made by Modi during his December 10 speech at an election rally in Palanpur in Gujarat. If the election outcome goes in favour of Congress, the opposition is expected to be more aggressive.


Rahul Gandhi’s elevation to the post of Congress president may add a fresh impetus to the party’s performance. In the Lok Sabha, the government has put on the official agenda three bills — all dealing with turning ordinances into Acts — in this week’s business. These include the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill. The Opposition also wants a debate on farmers’ distress and welfare measures for the recent cyclone victims.

However, the first agenda on the Opposition’s priority list is the “serious charge” levelled by the PM against his immediate predecessor. The Opposition plans to demand that Modi explain the basis of his charge and the proof of his conspiracy thesis, failing which it wants Modi to apologise in the House.

The Opposition camps are planning to rake up their allegations of corruption in the Rafale fighter aircraft deal as well as the Jay Shah affair. “When the Business Advisory Committee (the forum for the presiding officers, representatives of the government and Opposition to frame a listed agenda of business for every week in both Houses) of the Lok Sabha met on Friday, there was a broad agreement that the House should discuss this week issues such as farmers distress, the loss of property and lives due to recent cyclone….

On its part, the government has also pushed for the Bills to replace the recent three ordinances. But, given the mood of Congress and some others, it remains to be seen whether the House will function normally,” said a member of the committee, who did not wish to be identified.

In the Rajya Sabha, the government has listed three Bills — Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017; IIM Bill, 2017 that seeks to give these management institutions the status of national importance; and Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017.

The government plans to introduce some of its more crucial bills, such as the ones dealing with ‘triple talaq’ and FRDI Bill, in the week starting post-Christmas, according to people aware of the matter. Some of the Demands for Grants are, however, expected to be passed this week.