New Delhi: Parliament's Monsoon Session, which begins on Tuesday, is likely to be a very stormy one. In a strange turn of events, Prime Minister Narendra Modi who rode to power on the anti-corruption platform a year ago will have to answer the charges levelled by opposition parties against some of his own Cabinet and party colleagues in the current session. The Opposition led by the just 44-member Congress looks more energetic and is unlikely to give any breathing space to the government during the session.
A month after the Budget session of Parliament got over, scams hit the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. One of the front ranking leaders of the party and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is facing serious charges of conflict interest. She is accused of helping former IPL chairman Lalit Modi who fled to London to evade prosecution in money laundering and several other cases.
Even though almost everybody in the opposition demanded Modi's reaction on the allegations against Sushma Swaraj, he has chosen to remain silent ever since the details emerged. His senior colleagues like Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Urban Development & Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Venkaiah Naidu and others have so far defended her in the public.
The Opposition will surely demand Prime Minister's statement on the charges against Sushma Swaraj. Modi can't afford to evade or avoid Parliament when MPs demand his answer on the floor of the House.
Rajasthan Chief Minister and another senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje is also accused of helping Lalit Modi. She has also refused to step down. The opposition is likely to raise her issue also in Parliament.
The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh is getting sucked into the quagmire of Vyapam Scam with every passing day. The opposition is demanding Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's resignation over the issue.
The Congress is likely to raise the issue of corruption charges against three Maharashtra ministers, too, who belong to BJP. The ‘reluctant' alliance partner Shiv Sena may also embarrass the government.
For the first time since he came to power in May 2014, Modi is facing a very challenging Parliament session. The opposition parties seem to have regained some of their ‘lost' energy and vigour in the last one year. They want to put Modi government on the mat over corruption, governance, price rise, growth, security, economy and many other issues concerning the nation. Modi will find himself at the receiving end this time.
The controversial Land Acquisition Bill is also likely to stall the session. Most of the non-NDA parties are opposing it and making fiery speeches against the proposed legislation.
Unabated cross-border firing by the Pakistan army is also likely to rock Parliament. The opposition is mocking the government saying that Modi's election speech of teaching a lesson to Pakistan was just a bravado. Congress MP and party vice president Rahul Gandhi has already ridiculed Modi saying that his ‘56' inch chest will be reduced to ‘5.6' inch soon.
Ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Bihar, the opposition Congress, JDU, RJD, Communists and TMC will definitely try to embarrass the government. The four week session of Parliament may face many road blocks.
Modi has not been regular at Parliament sessions and he is unlikely to be present in the House all through the session. His senior colleagues Rajnath Singh, Jaitley and Naidu will be left with the challenging task of facing the opposition on a daily basis.
Bills pending in Lok Sabha
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2014
Delhi High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2015
The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
Bills pending in Rajya Sabha
Constitution (122nd) Amendment Bill, 2014 relating to GST
Whistle Blower Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015
Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2015.
Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012
Appropriation Act (Repeal) Bill
Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Parliamentary, Assembly Constituencies (Third) Bill, 2014.
New bills to be introduced
Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015
Constitution (Amendment) Bills, 2015
Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2015
High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Services)
National Commission for Women Bill, 2015
Human Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA) Profiling Bill, 2015.
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