No contentious bills next week

Keen to avoid disruptions in the way of passing the bills, the government is focusing on non-controversial bills to quickly make up for the time lost in this winter session of Parliament. HT reports.

Keen to avoid disruptions in the way of passing the bills, the government is focusing on non-controversial bills to quickly make up for the time lost in this winter session of Parliament.

HT Image

"At the end of the session, we should be able to show that at least some business could be done," parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters here.

Bills that can evoke strong reactions from the opposition and allies have been put on the back-burner to avoid controversy. In the Rajya Sabha, the government is still in a minority and heavily dependent on the opposition to pass its legislative business through. "We don't want to create controversies but pass as many bills as possible in this short time," Bansal said.

On Friday, the government will bring life insurance corporation (amendment) bill and petroleum and minerals pipelines (acquisition of right of user in land) amendment bill for passing in Lok Sabha. On Wednesday, it passed the Damodar Valley Corporation (amendment) bill and the NDMC (amendment) bill apart from the appropriation bill in Lok Sabha.

The insurance bill that faces apprehensions both from the opposition camp as well as allies-are likely to come only towards the end of the session, if at all the government can reach a broad consensus on these issues. The Lokpal bill is likely to come during the last working week (19-22 December).