Political parties on Sunday urged the government to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill to start legislative work in the new Parliament building.
Meanwhile, the government expanded the list of legislative matters through four more bills but remained silent on the controversial bill related to appointment of chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.
A special session of Parliament will begin on Monday. While the first day of meetings will be held in the existing building, the new building will host MP Ganesh Chaturthi on Tuesday.
Female booking bill
The issue on the women’s reservation bill was raised at an all-party meeting convened by the government. However, the government has not responded to the demands of the political parties. The Women’s Reservation Bill intends to provide 1/3 reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures. Sources said some regional parties have demanded quotas for backward classes and scheduled castes within overall reservation for women. This was a key sticking point in the earlier passage of the bill.
“All opposition parties are demanding that the women’s reservation bill be passed in this session of Parliament,” Lok Sabha Congress leader Adil Ranjan Chaudhry told reporters. He also said the government had informed them that this was a regular session of Parliament. “Only the government knows what its intentions are. It may bring some new agenda that will surprise everyone,” he said, while his party raised issues such as rising prices, unemployment, and the border situation with China at the meeting.
- Also read: Parliament session to begin tomorrow
BJD leader Pinaki Misra said the new era should start with the new Parliament building and the women’s reservation bill should be passed. “The bill will not take an hour or so to pass in the Lok Sabha,” he said. It is worth noting that the Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed by the Union House.
JMM MP Mahua Maji from Jharkhand feels that the women’s reservation bill should also provide “reservation within reservation”. This means there should be reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBC women, “otherwise women from these categories will not get representation.”
Bills to be submitted
Briefing reporters, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said the government business will include eight bills. These include the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Publications and Periodicals Registration Bill, the Post Office Bill, 2023, three SC/ST orders, the Senior Citizen Welfare Bill and the Repeal and Amendment Bill.
Although the Chief Electoral Commissioner and Other Electoral Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Tenure of Tenure) Bill, 2023 was also listed in the Lok Sabha gazette issued last week, Joshi did not mention it. When reminded, he made it clear that he provided the information, the information he had to provide.
On Monday, in line with the Prime Minister’s customary address to the media, the two Houses will discuss “75 years of parliamentary journey beginning with the Samvidan Sabha – achievements, experiences, memories and learning” for the last time in the old building. A special event will be held in the old building’s central lobby on Tuesday before moving to the new building. Both hospitals will operate normally from Wednesday to Friday.
There is no question time or zero time during the meeting. Additionally, all members were invited to take a group photo on Tuesday, fueling speculation of a snap election.
