Debate on JNU to rock Parliament

A meeting of leaders of all parties in the Rajya Sabha called by Vice President Hamid Ansari saw all leaders making the right noises about their commitment to allowing discussions in the House, but practical politics suggested there is little hope for much meaningful business.

The goods and services tax (GST) and bankruptcy Bills are likely to be taken up in the second half of the Budget session, scheduled for the end of April.

To enable their smooth passage, the government appears to be following a policy of first discussing contentious issues, such as the controversy surrounding Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Hyderabad University. That discussion will take place on February 24, a day after the Budget session begins.
 

However, the fact that Arunachal Pradesh got a new chief minister as rebel Congress leader Kalikho Pul formed a government with support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has led the Congress to raise the issue in the House.

The BJP is also clear that events in JNU have been represented in the media and the public space through the prism of the Opposition and will seek forcefully to defend its "nationalist" claims in the course of the debate on JNU.

This is the first such formal pre-session meeting convened by the Rajya Sabha chairman. Leaders who attended the meeting said that although the government has agreed to discuss every issue, including JNU, the body language and political stance point to a choppy session ahead.

The only Bill that is likely to get bipartisan support is the delimitation of constituencies in West Bengal, following the land swap agreement between India and Bangladesh. This Bill is urgent, as elections are due later in the summer in the state.

The Congress will meet on Monday to refine its parliamentary strategy.