Parliament met for the eighteenth sitting of the Session today.
Lok Sabha continued discussion on the agrarian crisis in the country.
In
Rajya Sabha the general discussion on the Union Budget concluded after
the Minister of Finance replied to the debate. The Minister sought the
opposition’s cooperation to take forward reforms and informed the House
that most states were now in favour of the Goods and Services Tax Bill.
The
Upper House saw repeated disruptions after the Mines and Minerals Bill
was taken up for discussion. An amendment was moved by a member of the
opposition to send the Bill back to the Select Committee for further
examination. It was pointed out by the opposition that as per Rule 93
(2) when a Bill as reported by the Select Committee is taken up for
consideration, any member may move an amendment to the effect that the
Bill be resent to the Committee. Opposition members further argued that
this rule along with Rule 125 allowed bills originating in the Council
to be sent back to the Select Committee for further scrutiny.
While protests in the Upper House continued, the Chair decided that the Bill will be taken up for discussion tomorrow at 11 am.
Parliament is scheduled to break for recess tomorrow.
In this context, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs requested the
opposition's cooperation for the passage of both the bills replacing
ordinances, i.e. the Coal Mines Bill and the Mines and Minerals Bill.