Government holds All Party Meet ahead of Winter Session of Parliament beginning today

New Delhi: Addressing floor leaders of parties in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha here today, ahead of Winter Session of Parliament beginning tomorrow, Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi said that it is important that all Political Parties support to conduct business in both the Houses of the Parliament and constructive discussion takes place on issues of national importance. Shri 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. Shri Modi 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.

A host of issues were brought up by the leaders of parties during the meeting. There was a consensus across party lines on ensuring smooth functioning of the Parliament without disruptions and deadlocks to be resolved through constructive discussions in both the Houses.

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Shri 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.

Shri Ananthkumar further informed that the Winter Session, 2017 of Parliament is scheduled to be held from Friday, the 15^th December, 2017, and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the Session may conclude on Friday, the 5^th 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.

The all-Party meeting was attended by Union Minister for Home Affairs, Shri Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Statistics & Programme Implementation, Shri Vijay Goel, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources, River development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, along with other Ministers. 

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