Not a mandate to disrupt: Government

Wary of the fact that Parliament’s coming Winter Session is likely to be a stormy one as a reinvigorated Opposition led by the Congress, fresh from tasting a huge victory in Bihar, is likely to give the Centre a rough time, it adopted a conciliatory approach towards the Opposition to allow the passage of key reform bills.

The session will begin on November 26 and end on December 23. Briefing reporters after the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, headed by home minister Rajnath Singh, met Monday, parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu urged the Opposition not to interpret the Bihar results as a “mandate to disrupt Parliament”.

A much chastened government visibly showed signs of reaching out to the Opposition, clearly aware that along with the Goods and Services Tax Bill, eight other bills are pending in the Lok Sabha and 11 in the Rajya Sabha. Other pending bills include the Land Bill, that is before a Joint Committee. Finance minister Arun Jaitley had earlier hinted at a possible consensus.

Parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Monday that while he welcomed the Bihar mandate, he was “disturbed” over media reports that the Opposition parties in Parliament would now get more emboldened to unite and stall the government’s parliamentary agenda for the Winter Session. “To interpret Bihar verdict in any other manner only amounts to questioning the wisdom of the people of the state. All parties have to understand it and enable Parliament to pass reform measures. The Bihar verdict is a clear statement of the people’s aspirations. It should not be interpreted as a mandate to obstruct Parliament,” Mr Naidu said.

Noting that the Opposition parties may have some issues, he said the government was ready to walk the “extra mile” to accommodate them. Asked about the Congress’ insistence on seven amendments to the GST Bill, he said that could be discussed in the House.

Asked about the likelihood of the Opposition raking up the “intolerance” issue, he urged them to show “tolerance” by allowing a debate on it in Parliament, and not protesting outside.

Talking about the Bihar polls, Mr Naidu projected it as an event whose impact was localised. The Bihar results, he said, reflected the mood of the people in that state and “not the national mood”. He also voiced the hope that the Bihar mandate should propel all parties into constructive cooperation in the larger interests of Bihar and other states.

It was decided at the CCPA meeting that a special two-day sitting of Parliament on the first two days of the session will be held to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949, and honour its architect, dalit icon B.R. Ambedkar. Mr Naidu said that during the separate special sittings of both Houses of

Parliament, a discussion will be held on the “Commitment to the Constitution” as part of the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr Ambedkar and November 26 will be observed as “Constitution Day”, commemorating the Draft Constitution’s acceptance on November 26, 1949.

No Question Hour and Zero Hour will be held during these two days, the minister added.