Opposition demands law on MSP, debate on Pegasus, inflation

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 28

At an all-party meeting called by the government on Sunday, a day before the start of the winter session of Parliament, various Opposition parties demanded a law on MSP on priority.

On agenda: Bills to repeal agri laws | Ban private cryptocurrency | extend tenure of CBI/ED chiefs

Thirty parties attended the meeting. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge sought a discussion on Covid preparations, aid for kin of Covid victims, debate on Chinese aggression, inflation, unemployment and Pegasus. NDA constituent NPP demanded repeal of CAA. Kharge said the government had agreed to repeal the farm laws only after election setbacks and it “may re-enact these in some form or the other”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not present. The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who said the Opposition flagged important issues and discussions were “very healthy”.

Bills to repeal the three farm laws, ban private cryptocurrencies and extend the tenure of CBI and ED chiefs will top the government’s legislative agenda. The session will have 19 sittings over 25 days. It will conclude on December 23.

In line with PM Modi’s decision, the government will take up the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, in the Lok Sabha on the very first day on Monday. The Bill may also be brought in the Rajya Sabha as a supplementary agenda.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government was ready to discuss anything “under the rules”. “We have sought Opposition’s support for smooth functioning of Parliament,” Joshi said. There was consensus among Opposition leaders on priority to repeal of farm laws and enactment of a law on MSP. The TMC raised the issue of extended BSF jurisdiction in border states and need for greater scrutiny of government Bills.

AAP leaders walked out of the meeting with RS MP Sanjay Singh saying the government did not allow him to raise the issue of MSP law and compensation for families of deceased farmers.

The session will see three Bills replacing the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021; Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021; and the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021.

Other major Bills listed for the session include the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021; Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019; Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019; and Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020. Sunday saw hectic meetings of NDA floor leaders followed by one of RS floor leaders hosted by Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.