The Modi government is set to present six Bills, including the controversial FDI in Insurance and Land Acquisition Bills, for approval in the Lok Sabha this week to replace the ordinances promulgated in the inter-session period.
Despite the entire Opposition being arrayed against it, the government’s strategy aims to get the Bills cleared by the Lower House.
In the event of the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA is in a minority and faces stiff resistance from a united Opposition, rejecting the Bills, the government could go for a joint session. A Bill cleared by one House but rejected by another can be approved in a joint session.
The Ordinances have to be converted into Bills within six weeks of the first sitting of Parliament after they were promulgated.
On Monday, the Lok Sabha will take up for consideration and passage the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2014, and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2015, to replace the ordinances.
The government’s anxiety stems from the fact that all the Ordinances must be replaced by Acts of Parliament by April 5, while the House is scheduled to take a month-long break from March 21.
