The monsoon session of Parliament will start on July 21 and last for just three weeks, the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs decided on Wednesday. This means the government has less than a month to sort out the Lalit Modi controversy, failing which the Opposition is gearing up for another stormy session.
For the government, caught between its desire to be seen running a transparent, clean administration yet unwilling to sack its under-fire members, it is going to be a tough call.
The Opposition, particularly the Congress, has made it clear it will not allow transaction of any business till External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje are sacked. The government has planned a heavy legislative agenda, with at least 17 Bills to be cleared by both Houses that will require the cooperation of the Opposition. This includes three key pieces of legislation relating to land acquisition, real estate and the Goods and Services Tax regime, the last a long-pending reforms measure. All three are currently with parliamentary committees that are examining them.
But with a majority of opposition parties still strongly resisting the government’s versions of the Land Acquisition Bill and the GST Bill, the Centre will have a tough time getting them through the Rajya Sabha. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad has made it clear that it would be virtually impossible to transact any business if the demands are not met over the Lalit Modi issue.
