Parliament Winter Session begins today; PM Modi urges for cooperation to make the session fruitful

New Delhi, December 15: Government holds All Party Meet ahead of Winter Session of Parliament to work out floor strategy and smooth functioning of both the house on Thursday. The session which will continue till the 5th of next month, will have 14 sittings.

Modi said that policy making in the country benefits from constructive criticism by all political parties and Government welcomes deliberations on the floor of both the Houses on all issues raised by the leaders present during the meeting.

Prime Minister also urged all parties to form a National consensus on the issue of simultaneous elections of State Assemblies and the Parliament, every five years. He requested all the parties to rise above political considerations on this issue so that development projects may be implemented across the country in full force rather than being interrupted by frequent elections. Prime Minister added that constructive discussions in parliament would help policy making.

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Ananthkumar, later briefing media persons said that the Government has requested all parties, especially the opposition, for their co-operation for the smooth functioning of the House.

The Minister informed that all parties were in favour of a productive Winter session. The Government is always ready to discuss on the floor of the House, any issue as permitted under Rules of Procedure, he added.

Ananthkumar further informed that the Winter Session, 2017 of Parliament is scheduled to be held from Friday, the 15th December, 2017, and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the Session may conclude on Friday, the 5th January, 2018. The Minister said that the Session will provide a total of 14 sittings spread over a period of 21 days including four Private Members’ days. Further, 25 Bills are pending in Lok Sabha while 39 Bills are pending in Rajya Sabha, he added.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the opposition will raise the issue of curtailing the duration of the session. He said it will also raise Prime Minister's remarks against former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and others and violation of Model code of Conduct by BJP leaders.

The all-party meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Mulayam Singh Yadav of Samajwadi Party, Mohd. Saleem of CPI(M) among others.

41 Items of Government Business (40 Bills and 1 Financial Item) have been identified for being taken up in both the Houses of Parliament during ensuing Winter Session, 2017:

I- Bills for Introduction, Consideration and Passing

1. The Central Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Bill, 2017;

2. The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017

3. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017

4. The Consumer Protection Bill, 2017

5. The ‘Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes and Protection of Interest of Depositors’ Interest Bill, 2017

6. The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2017

7. The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2017

8. The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017

9. The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2017

10. The Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2017

11. The High Court and the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Condition of Services) Amendment Bill, 2017

12. The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions Third (Amendment) Bill, 2017

13. The National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill 2017

14. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017

II- Bills for Consideration and Passing

(A) Bills pending in Lok Sabha

1. The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017;

2. The Repealing and Amending (Second) Bill, 2017;

3. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2017;

4. The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill, 2017;

5. The Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017;

6. The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2017;

7. The Right of Children Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017;

8. The National Sports University Bill, 2017;

9. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016;

10. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016;

11. The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2016;

12. The Major Port Authorities Bill, 2016;

13. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016;

14. The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, 2017; and

15. The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Third Amendment) Bill, 2017as returned by Rajya Sabha with amendment.

(B) Bills pending in Rajya Sabha

1. The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013;

2. The Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015 as passed by Lok Sabha;

3. The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016 as passed by Lok Sabha;

4. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017 as passed by Lok Sabha;

5. The Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE) Bill, 2017 as passed by Lok Sabha;

6. The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2016 as passed by Lok Sabha;

7. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017 as passed by Lok Sabha;

8. The Indian Institute of Management Bill 2017 as passed by Lok Sabha;

9. The State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2017 as passed by LokSabha; and

10. The National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill, 2017 as passed by Lok Sabha

III- Financial Business

1. Second Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants (including Railways) for 2017-18

IV- Bills for Withdrawal

In Lok Sabha

1. The Consumer Protection Bill, 2015