India News

Parliament’s winter session gets off to a stormy start, has 40 Bills on agenda

Published

9 years ago

December 15, 2017

Parliament’s winter session gets off to a stormy start, has 40 Bills on agenda

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As Congress and other Opposition parties hope to corner Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government on a slew of issues, stormy session likely

The bitter war of words between the BJP and the Congress, seen during the election campaign for Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat Assemblies ended on Thursday, moved on to the Parliament on Friday with the start of its winter session.

The much delayed session got off to a stormy start with uproarious scenes forcing repeated adjournments. While the Lok Sabha sitting wound up for the day after obituary references, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice in an hour and was to resume business later in the afternoon at 2.30.

The Parliament has a heavy load of business to transact in this session with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government putting as many as 40 Bills on the agenda.

Minutes before the session began on Friday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the customary appeal for a constructive session.

However, with the Opposition, particularly the Congress party and its president-elect Rahul Gandhi, ready with a slew of issues to corner the government and especially the Prime Minister, it remains to be seen whether the session – with just 14 working days before it ends on January 15 – will actually see any major legislative business.

As the sitting began, Opposition leaders in Rajya Sabha questioned the Chair’s decision to disqualify senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav. Even as Chairman Venkaiah Naidu continued to tell the leaders of Opposition to sit down, Leader of Opposition in Upper House Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Opposition did not intend to question the Chair’s decision but demanded clarification on why was Yadav expelled from the Rajya Sabha. The furore led to the House being adjourned till noon.

When the House resumed, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad raised the issue of Modi’s allegations against former prime minister Manmohan Singh and others of conspiring with Pakistan for Gujarat election. “Ye sadharan aarop nahi hai (This isn’t a ordinary allegation),” Azad said. The uproar that followed forced the House to be adjourned again, till 2.30 pm.

On the agenda for the ongoing session are key legislations, including the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, 2017, the Citizen (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017, the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill, 2017.

According to a list compiled by the PRS Legislative Research, 25 bills have been listed for consideration and passing, 14 Bills are listed for introduction, consideration, and passing, while one bill is listed for withdrawal.

Many of the Bills on the agenda are controversial and would, if and when tabled, undoubtedly lead to howls of protests from the Opposition benches.

But even before the government actually begins pushing its legislative agenda, it would first have to find ways to blunt the Opposition’s tirade over issues which are not related to the matters that have presently been placed for the Parliament’s consideration.

The Congress party is desperate to press for an apology on the floor of Parliament from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent allegation against its leaders, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and former Vice President of India Hamid Ansari. During the recently concluded Gujarat Assembly poll campaign, Modi had accused Dr Singh, Ansari and the Congress party of holding a ‘secret meeting’ with Pakistani officials at the residence of suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and alleged that the leaders were hatching a conspiracy with Pakistan over the Gujarat elections. The outlandish claim had outraged the Congress and forced even the mild-mannered Dr Manmohan Singh to launch a scathing broadside against the Prime Minister who he said was spreading “falsehoods and canards”.

The ‘Pakistan conspiracy’ issue aside, the Congress party also hopes to put the Prime Minister and his closest aide, BJP president Amit Shah on the mat over allegations of financial impropriety against the latter’s son, Jay Shah.

It is pertinent to note that the ongoing winter session marks the debut of Amit Shah as a parliamentarian – he had been elected to the Rajya Sabha in September. The session will also be the first for Rahul Gandhi after his recent elevation as President of the Congress party.

The Opposition benches also hope to corner the government over issues related to GST, rising unemployment, unabated inflation, allegations of financial irregularities against Shaurya Doval, the son of Modi’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, inconvenience caused to the public at large over the government’s insistence of mandatory Aadhaar-linking with a host of services and welfare schemes, among others.

While the government may have an ambitious legislative agenda for the winter session and hope to carry a chunk of it through, at least in the Lok Sabha based on its brute majority, it would face a major challenge in the Rajya Sabha where the combined Opposition still has greater numerical strength.

The Opposition’s anger against the Modi government aside, the Centre’s legislative agenda itself is bound to trigger a logjam. For instance, the government hopes to get the National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill, 2017 passed in the current session. In the monsoon session of parliament, while this Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha, the Congress had succeeded in getting three amendments moved to the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, leaving Modi red-faced. The government hopes to have its version of the Bill cleared by Parliament in this session but such a move is unlikely to be accepted by the Opposition.

Similarly, the Centre’s GST Amendment Bill, FRDI Bill, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Bill, Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, Citizen (Amendment) Bill, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill are all likely to face intense scrutiny and protests by the Opposition.

It remains to be seen how, despite its absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, the Modi government will try to realise the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hope for a “productive session”. Not to forget, the result for the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections are scheduled for December 18 (Monday) – the day when the Lok Sabha is scheduled to reconvene after being adjourned on Friday following obituary references. Exit polls have predicted a BJP victory in both states but irrespective of the outcome of the polls, the result is bound to create an upheaval in both Houses of Parliament which will most likely washout another day or two of the already brief session.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Yogi Adityanath takes a dig at Akhilesh Yadav over Ram Temple visit plan

Yogi Adityanath’s remarks came after the Samajwadi Party announced that Akhilesh Yadav would visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on December 12.

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November 7, 2026

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday took an apparent swipe at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his planned visit to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, saying those who had fired on Ram devotees should first apologise to them and to the saints.

Yogi made the remarks while addressing the 10th edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya. He did not name Akhilesh Yadav directly.

Yogi’s remarks come after Akhilesh’s Ayodhya visit plan

The chief minister’s comments came after the Samajwadi Party announced that Akhilesh Yadav would visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on December 12. It would be his first visit to the temple since its inauguration, according to the report.

Yogi said those who had earlier neglected and insulted Ayodhya, opened fire on Ram devotees and subjected saints to lathicharge should come to the city only after seeking forgiveness.

“Let them apologise to the devotees of Lord Ram; let them apologise to the saints,” Yogi said, adding that they should repent for their past actions.

Reference to 1990 firing on kar sevaks

Yogi’s remarks referred to the 1990 police firing on kar sevaks during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. At the time, the Uttar Pradesh government was headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav’s father.

The chief minister said those who had once “bloodied” Ayodhya were now remembering the city. He also criticised political leaders over their conduct at religious gatherings, referring to the decorum of a katha.

Akhilesh has not yet visited the Ram Temple

Akhilesh Yadav has visited Ayodhya earlier but has not so far visited the Ram Temple. The SP leader was in the city on October 8 to attend a Bhagwat Katha organised by party leader Pawan Pandey.

According to the report, Akhilesh and his wife, Mainpuri MP Dimple Yadav, are scheduled to offer prayers at the Ram Temple and Hanumangarhi on December 12.

The planned visit comes amid political activity in Ayodhya ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections due by February 2027.

Yogi highlights Ayodhya’s transformation

During his Deepotsav address, Yogi also spoke about the changes in Ayodhya and described the city’s transformation as an ideological victory.

He said those who had previously neglected Ayodhya were now witnessing its development. He also said Lord Ram represented India’s national consciousness, culture, values and self-respect.

The chief minister further recalled the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and said Ayodhya had regained the glory for which kar sevaks and saints had struggled.

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Ahead of Diwali, Yogi govt hikes DA by 5% for UP government staff

The Uttar Pradesh government has increased Dearness Allowance by 5 percentage points, taking it from 58% to 63%. The revised rate will benefit lakhs of eligible employees ahead of Diwali.

Published

26 mins ago

November 7, 2026

APNLive Desk

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a 5 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees ahead of Diwali. With this revision, the DA rate has increased from 58 per cent to 63 per cent, providing financial relief to lakhs of eligible employees across the state.

The revised allowance will be effective from July 1, 2026, according to the government announcement. A government order was also issued on Saturday, November 7.

The enhanced DA will be paid along with employees’ regular November 2026 salaries.

Which employees will benefit from the DA hike?

The decision covers regular state government employees and several other categories of eligible staff.

These include employees of aided educational and technical institutions, regular and full-time employees of urban local bodies, work-charged employees and personnel drawing salaries under University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales.

The revision is expected to benefit a large section of the Uttar Pradesh workforce ahead of the festive season.

What happens to the DA arrears?

The revised DA rate will apply retrospectively from July 1, 2026. Consequently, employees will also be entitled to arrears for the period preceding the November salary payment.

The government has made provisions for the payment of the arrears for July to October 2026. These amounts will be credited to employees’ provident fund accounts, according to the reported payment arrangements.

The enhanced allowance for November will be reflected in the regular salary for that month.

The decision comes ahead of Diwali and will provide additional financial relief to eligible government employees in Uttar Pradesh.

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Himanta Sarma to approach court over threat to gherao home in Zubeen case

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government would approach the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court over a threat to gherao his residence if two prime accused in the Zubeen Garg death case are granted bail.

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November 7, 2026

APNLive Desk

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the state government would bring before the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court a threat by a group to gherao his residence in connection with the Zubeen Garg death case.

Speaking to reporters, Sarma described the threat as a serious matter, saying it posed a danger to his family and could amount to a direct attempt to murder.

The development comes ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on November 30 of the bail petitions filed by Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma, the two prime accused in the case.

Why Himanta Sarma plans to approach the courts

Sarma said he had instructed the state government’s legal department to bring the matter to the notice of both the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court.

The Chief Minister objected to the group threatening to target his residence rather than holding a protest near the Chief Minister’s Office.

He said those questioning the judicial process should approach the Supreme Court or the high court instead of targeting him. Sarma also maintained that the courts should be allowed to carry out their work.

According to him, attempts to question the judicial process in this manner could obstruct the path of justice.

What the group said about the bail pleas

The Zubeen Garg Nyay Samiti, led by Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi, had announced on Thursday that it would gherao the Chief Minister’s residence under certain circumstances.

The group said it would carry out the protest if Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma were granted bail or if the Assam government failed to mount an effective legal opposition to their bail pleas.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the bail petitions of the two accused on November 30.

Bail granted to two accused in the case

The Gauhati High Court granted bail to singer Amritprava Mahanta, an accused in the Zubeen Garg death case, on October 9. She was granted bail against a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of the same amount.

The high court has also granted bail to Sandipan Garg in the case.

Referring to the bail order concerning Amritprava Mahanta, Sarma said it mentioned that 160 witnesses had not named her during the court hearing, despite having done so during the investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Responding to questions over the development, Sarma said the witnesses should be questioned about the discrepancy rather than him.

What happened to Zubeen Garg?

Singer Zubeen Garg died in Singapore on September 19 last year while swimming in the sea.

Police in Singapore had said that no foul play was involved in his death. Garg had travelled to Singapore to attend the fourth edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF).