Nath, an MP for over 30 years, gave an ambivalent answer

to a specific question whether he was confident that Women's Reservation bill and Lokpal bill would be passed during the tenure of the 15th Lok Sabha. Parliamentary polls are still 15 months away. The argument of some parties was that if measures like criminal law amendment ordinance were passed hastily without giving much thought to the implications of the provisions, it would create havoc. Similar was their reasoning with the other key legislations including the land acquisition bill. The criminal law amendment ordinance was promulgated by the government early this month after a committee headed by Justice J S Verma made a slew of recommendations for safety of women in the wake of the outrage over the Delhi gangrape. Significantly, the meeting of Chief Whips saw representatives of smaller parties asking the government to take up only those measures on priority basis on which there was a consensus between the Congress and the BJP. Their contention was that only such measures could be passed which have the backing of the two major national parties. The three-month-long session beginning from Thursday with President Pranab Mukherjee's Address, will have 34 sittings. The session has a heavy legislative agenda, including getting Parliament nod to three ordinances, introduction of as many as 16 bills, consideration and passage of 35 bills. These include the national food security bill, the criminal law amendment bill, reservation for SC/STs in promotion bill and a bill aimed at prevention and prohibition of sexual harassment of women at workplace. Besides, 13 items related to financial business, including discussions on General and Railway budgets, and budget for Jharkhand which is under President's Rule. Nath appealed to all political parties to ensure smooth conduct of Parliament saying that members come to the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to participate in discussion and not to scuttle and obstruct the proceedings. "Government is not in any way hesitant to discuss anything." Besides discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President for his Address, Parliament will also take up a discussion on the Statutory Resolution seeking approval of imposition of President's rule in Jharkhand.