Parliament session likely to witness 'fireworks'

Skipping the monsoon session because of a confidence vote and meeting now with "erstwhile friends" in opposition benches, Parliament begins a new session on Friday that is likely to be stormy on a number of issues like communal violence, terror attacks and price rise.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to make a statement on the nitty-gritty of Indo-US nuclear agreement as it is going to be the first session after conclusion of the pact.

In between the special two-day sitting in July when the government secured a vote of confidence with the shifting of sides by Samajwadi Party and the session beginning on Friday, the government successfully went through the process of clinching the nuclear deal through IAEA, NSG and the US Congress.

With the deal in its bag, an upbeat Congress is gearing up to take on the combined opposition which is likely to corner the government on issues like spiralling prices and incidents of terror attack in some parts of the country.

Main opposition BJP has been accusing the government of going soft on terror besides being critical of its handling of the internal security and failing to check inflation.

To counter the opposition onslaught, Congress is likely to raise the issue of attacks on Christians in BJP-ruled Karnataka and Orissa governed by BJD-BJP charging Sangh Parivar outfits like Bajrang Dal and VHP with indulging in attacks against minority communities in the two states.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said the government was willing to have a thorough discussion on these issues.

An indication of the shape of things to come during the session was evident at the meeting of the National Integration Council (NIC) which saw both government and opposition trading charges on issues of terrorism and communalism.

RJD, LJP and some Congress ministers are likely to raise the issue of banning Bajrang Dal, allegedly behind the attacks on Christians and Christian prayer halls in Orissa and Karnataka.

The opposition, on the other hand, has decided to renew its demand for bringing a tough POTA-like anti-terror law, a suggestion already shot down by the government which feels efforts should be made to strengthen the federal system rather than bringing a new law.

While External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to make a statement on the nitty-gritty of Indo-US nuclear agreement as it is going to be the first parliament session after conclusion of the pact, the government is likely to come under attack by Left parties which withdrew support to the government on the deal.

Since it could be the last session before the general elections early next year and with assembly polls to nearly half a dozen states next month, both UPA and NDA would try their best to outscore each other on various issues.

 

Spiralling prices along with the jolt to the economy because of the meltdown of global financial markets are also likely to figure prominently in the session.

The Mayawati government's cancellation of allotment of land for a rail project in Rae Bareli, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, and virtual scuttling of Gandhi's rally there are expected to generate enough heat among members belonging to BSP and Congress in the two Houses.

Other issues that are likely to come up include flood devastation in several states. The cash-for-vote scam which had rocked the Lok Sabha on 22^nd July might resurface with a bang.

The five-week session, which will end on 21^st November, is the second phase of the two-day session which saw Manmohan Singh government winning the trust vote.

The session which would have 24 sittings will take up supplementary demands for grants of railways and general budgets.

Some of the important bills listed for the session include those to check corruption, money laundering and communal violence besides one seeking to provide social security to unorganised sector workers.