Opposition to focus on price rise, security

The budget session of Parliament, which begins on Monday, will see the Opposition attempting to corner the government on its handling of price rise and internal security.

The Left parties are opposed to the move to introduce the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has flagged talks with Pakistan talks as an issue of concern, which it wants to be discussed on Thursday, day of the talks itself. Both sides have also given indications of taking up the revised fertilizer policy, which they feel will be detrimental to farmers’ interests.

Monday meeting

On price rise, the government has indicated its willingness to concede the Opposition demand for discussing it on Tuesday, ahead of the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address. A final decision will be taken at a leaders’ meeting on Monday.

“We are prepared to discuss any issue. If they [the Opposition] are very particular on the price rise discussion, we may consider it,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said.

Opposition warning

However, the Opposition has warned that if the government does not yield to its demand, it will move an adjournment motion. While the Left parties took the decision on Saturday, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) arrived at the same strategy at its meeting on Sunday evening.

Besides price rise, the Opposition will also try to corner the government on its handling of terrorism and violence following the Pune blast, the Telangana agitation and the continued killing of security personnel by Maoists.

On the BJP’s specific demand for a discussion on the day of India-Pakistan talks itself, the government maintained that all issues cannot get precedence over the motion of thanks.

The Opposition need not insist on separate discussions on all issues because the motion of thanks provided ample opportunity to air views on every subject of governance, sources in the government said.

In all, 36 Bills are listed for introduction. The Left parties will oppose the move to introduce the Nuclear Liability Bill, an essential precondition for entry of companies of the United States in the civil nuclear sector.

NDA seeks clarification

The NDA also wants the government to clarify whether the Bill was being piloted under the U.S.’ pressure. The government is most keen to have this passed as quickly as possible in order not to deny U.S. nuclear power companies an opportunity to enter India.

Divided into two halves, the first part of the budget session will see the President’s address, the railway and general budgets besides presentation of the Economic Survey and the Finance Commission’s report. It will be followed by a general discussion on both the budgets.

The government plans to make a suo motu statement on Australia and acquaint Parliament with the India-Pakistan talks.

Shivraj demands execution of Afzal Guru's death sentence

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has demanded the execution of the death sentence of Afzal Guru who was found guilty in the attack on Parliament. Speaking at the Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Mr. Chauhan said that it was unfortunate that “we have so far spent Rs.20 crore on the security of Afzal Guru and yet are unable to take a final decision on the issue of execution of his death sentence”.

Mr. Chauhan also said that delay in awarding punishment to Afzal Guru and Kasab was reducing people's faith in the judicial procedure of the country, which was not good for Indian democracy.

To reign in corruption, money laundering and the presence of black money, Mr. Chauhan demanded the immediate closure of circulation of Rs.1000 and Rs. 500 currency notes in the country. He said that with this measure it would be difficult and impractical for forgers to print and transport currency notes of denominations Rs.100 and Rs.50.

Mr. Chauhan also said that the M.P. police had done a commendable job in controlling the spread of naxal violence in the State. The Chief Minister said that the naxal organisations are increasingly spreading their presence in districts like Dindori, Mandla, Anuppur, Shahdol, Sidhi and Singrauli of the State which are bordering Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh. Due to this, he demanded that these districts should also be included in the reimbursement of the expenditure made on security.