Govt holds meeting with Floor Leaders of Political Parties ahead of Winter Session of Parliament

• TMC demands discussion on ethics panel’s recommendation to expel Moitra
• 19 bills and two financial items to be taken up consideration this session
• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi calls for cooperation from all political parties for smooth functioning of the Parliament
• All important issues to be discussed in Parliament: Rajnath Singh
• Winter Session to provide a total of 15 sittings spread over a period of 19 days

NE NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, DEC 2

A meeting of the Government with Floor Leaders of all Political Parties was held under the Chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, here on Saturday, before the start of the Winter Session of Parliament, 2023.

In his opening address, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi informed that the Winter Session of Parliament will commence on Monday, the 4^th December, 2023 and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the session may conclude on Friday, the 22^nd December, 2023. The Session will provide 15 sittings spread over a period of 19 days. He also informed that tentatively 19 items of Legislative Business and 2 items of Financial Business have been identified for being taken up during this session.

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs further stated that the Government is always ready to discuss on the floor of the House, any issue as permitted under Rules of Procedure by respective Presiding Officers. He also requested all party leaders for active cooperation and support for the smooth functioning of the two Houses of Parliament. The meeting was also attended by Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Law and Justice; Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture,  Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal.

Concluding the meeting, after listening to the points raised by the leaders of various political parties in both Houses of Parliament, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh thanked leaders for raising important issues in the meeting and stated that Government is ready for discussion on all these issues as per the rules of the respective Houses of Parliament and with the permission of the concerned Presiding Officers.

TMC leaders  demanded a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the ethics committee’s recommendation to expel party MP Mahua Moitra from the House in a “cash-for-query” case.

The report of the Lok Sabha panel recommending the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader’s expulsion is listed for tabling in the House on the first day of the session.

TMC representatives at an all-party meeting called by the government on Saturday claimed that the panel’s report had been made public “brazenly” before being tabled in the House. Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek O’Brien, the TMC’s parliamentary party leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively, represented it at the meeting.

During the meet, they said while a few MPs are already under suspension, they have seen reports in the media that one member of the TMC is “going to be expelled shortly”, according to sources.

The TMC leaders demanded a discussion on the issue in Lok Sabha before the report is tabled. After the discussion, a decision should be taken by the House, they said.

Moitra can be expelled only if the House votes in favour of the panel’s recommendation, according to the rules. The committee, at a meeting on November 9, adopted its report recommending her expulsion from the Lok Sabha.

In the meeting, Bandyopadhyay and O’Brien also accused the government of reducing all-party meetings to a “waste of time”. The government is bringing bills to Parliament without discussing them in all party meetings, they alleged, according to the sources.

They also urged the government not to pass the three bills to replace the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act.

In total, meeting was attended by 30 Leaders from 23 political parties.

LIST OF BILLS LIKELY TO BE TAKEN UP

LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS

1. The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023, as passed by Lok Sabha.
2. The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, as passed by Rajya Sabha.
3. The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, as passed by Rajya Sabha.
4. The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023
5. The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023
6. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
7. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
8. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
9. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
10. The Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
11. The Post Office Bill, 2023
12. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023
13. The Boilers Bill, 2023
14. The Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023
15. The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill 2023
16. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023
17. The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023
18. The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023
19. The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023

II – FINANCIAL BUSINESS

1. Presentation, Discussion and Voting on First Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2023-24 and introduction, consideration and passing of the related Appropriation Bill.

1. Presentation, Discussion and Voting on Demands for Excess Grants for the year 2020-21 and introduction, consideration and passing of the related Appropriation Bill.