The last session of 15th Lok Sabha beginning on Wednesday is likely to be a stormy affair over Telangana bill which the government is keen to push along with six anti-corruption legislations with an appeal to all parties for support.
As many as 39 bills, including the anti-corruption legislations being pushed by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, have been listed in the session which is the continuation of the Winter session that ended last December.
The session, convened mainly for the passage of the Vote-on-Account and interim Railway budget, will have 12 sittings between February 5 and 21 during which the government plans to introduce other crucial legislations like Communal Violence (Prevention) Bill and push other bills passed by one of the two Houses.
Ahead of the session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath today held a meeting with leaders of all the parties and asked them to "rise above political affiliations" to support the crucial bills, particularly the six legislations that are to form "package" to fight corruption.
However, the government appeared conscious that the session could witness trouble over the Telangana bill, which provides for division of Andhra Pradesh.
The bill is expected to be introduced in this session despite rejection by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and MPs from Seemandhra, including those from Congress, have made clear their intent to oppose it tooth and nail.
Samajwadi Party, which is opposed to smaller states, has also made it clear that it will oppose the bill.
"I asked parties to make their stand clear whether they are for corruption or against corruption, whether they are for Telangana or against Telangana. There should be no 'ifs' and 'buts'," Nath told reporters here.
He said parties were orally expressing their support to such measures but "quietly" working to disrupt proceedings of Parliament to scuttle them. "Their double-game should be exposed," the minister added.
In this context, he singled out BJP, saying it expresses support for Telangana but disfavours suspension of any member who disrupts the proceedings. "They can't be running and hunting together," he said.
