NEW DELHI, Feb 1 - Shaken by protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), the NDA government has hammered out an agreement with the Opposition to discuss and pass six Bills barring the contentious ones.
A Business Advisory Committee meeting, chaired by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, who is Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, today decided to discuss and debate only six Bills on which there was consensus between the government and Opposition. The Bill included the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to replace an Ordinance; the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018; the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018; the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019; the Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019, and the Aadhaar and other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
On Monday, Naidu is likely to convene another meeting to discuss controversial Bills, like the CAB and Triple Talak Bills, said Congress MP Bhubaneswar Kalita.
Sources said that the government and the Opposition parties today reached an understanding on the Bills to be taken up for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha during the on-going Budget Session of Parliament. As a result, six legislative proposals, including the one to replace an Ordinance, will be taken up during the Session.
Later, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar and his deputy Vijay Goel held a 30-minute discussion with Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and leaders of other parties on the legislative proposals that could be taken up.
The Rajya Sabha is likely to discuss the Motion of Thanks to the President during February 4-6, the Budget on February 7-11 and take up the agreed upon legislations during February 12-13. February 8 is meant for Private Members� Bill with next two days being weekend holidays.
Meanwhile, the NDA meeting on Thursday, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was a stormy affair with Janata Dal (United) and Shiv Sena expressing their opposition to the CAB. The NDA allies urged the Centre not to bring the CAB. The Prime Minister had reportedly remarked that the government will think about it.
On Friday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had held a meeting with the TMC MPs and sought their support in passing the CAB in the Rajya Sabha. A TMC MP told this newspaper that they refused to support the Bill and conveyed that they will vote against it.
Meanwhile, an AGP delegation has landed in the Capital, which met leaders of various political parties.
The AGP delegation and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma met Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut. He later told newsmen that the AGP had met president Udhab Thackrey, who has supported their cause. �This Bill cannot be brought in a hurry and we told the government at the NDA meeting and Union Home Minister yesterday that you cannot disturb the Northeast like this,� Raut said. �We will not allow the Bill to be brought in Rajya Sabha,� he asserted.
There are many MPs even within the BJP who also do not want such a Bill to be brought in Parliament, he added.
The AGP delegation also called on senior Samaj Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav. The SP leader has also extended his support and assured that his party will not allow the government to bring the Bill.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Congress president Rahul Gandhi�s meeting with Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti adviser Akhil Gogoi, differences have emerged within the Congress, with a section of leaders opposing the meeting. �We wanted the president to first meet Dr Hiren Gohain, All Assam Students� Union and then the others, but unfortunately because of some leaders, a meeting has been fixed with Akhil Gogoi, a senior leader told this newspaper.
