NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI) -- With a range of issues in the armoury of the Opposition, the Monsoon session of Indian Parliament beginning Wednesday is expected to generate heat and dust over a variety of subjects like price rise, economy and the situation in northeastern Indian state of Assam.
The month-long session will be a test for India's Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde who has been made the Leader of the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) in the wake of exit of Pranab Mukherjee, who has been the chief troubleshooter of the government for eight-long years.
Riots in Assam, which the Indian Prime Minister has dubbed as a blot on the nation, are likely to witness charges and counter-charges between the Congress and the opposition as also the death of pilgrims during Amarnath cave pilgrimage.
A spate of railway accidents, including the one involving the Tamil Nadu Express, is expected to be utilised by a section of the opposition to drive a wedge in the ruling United Progressive Alliance government as ally Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is in charge of the key ministry.
The four low-intensity blasts in western Indian city of Pune as also the collapse of the power grid in northern and eastern India are among the issues that are likely to be raised by the opposition.
With the monsoon playing truant in several parts of the country, the focus would also turn to the drought situation amid demands for a national water policy and a better deal for farmers.
The Left parties have taken up the issue of the Food Security bill in a big way. They are also expected to take up the killing of tribals in central Indian state of Chhattisgarh and the violence at the Maruti plant in Manesar in northern Indian state of Haryana.
Ahead of the session, talk in the ruling circles is that a UPA Coordination Committee will be in place and could have its first meeting on the opening day of the session, thereby projecting a united face of the alliance.
As many as 31 bills have been listed for consideration in the month-long session, which will conclude on September 7.
The bills include those on Forward Contracts, Banking laws, whistle-blowers and women's reservation as also the Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials bill.
The Left and Right could make a common cause on the issue of FDI in retail as also the Aircel-Maxis deal in which P. Chidambaram, who is now the Finance Minister, is under attack for alleged involvement of his family members.
Already, there have been demands for an all-party meeting before a final decision is taken on FDI in retail.
The issue of price rise, prices of diesel and petrol, forward contracts, declining confidence in corporate sector over economy could also come up.
Government managers have been insisting that they were ready for discussion on any issue. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal expressed hope that like the last session, this session too would be a good and productive one as regards transaction of government business.
Though the much-talked about Lokpal (Ombudsman) bill has not been listed for consideration, the managers have been maintaining that it would be brought up expeditiously once the report from the Select Committee of the Upper House of Indian Parliament is submitted. – NNN-PTI
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