NEW DELHI, Feb 18 � The Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) Order Amendment Bill 2011 and National Waterway (Lakhipur-Bhanga stretch of river Barak) Bill 2011 are among 32 Bills proposed to be laid during the ensuing Budget Session of Parliament that gets under way from Monday.
A number of issues of North-east are expected to be raised during the Session, including the CAG�s special inspection report on Dima Hasao district and alleged involvement of ministers. The BJP has already said they are planning to raise the issue of corruption in the North-east on the basis of its report. The mega dam issue and talks with ULFA and NDFB are other issues that are likely to figure.
The proposed Constitution ST Order Amendment Bill 2011, however, is unlikely to include the Koch Rajbongshi and five other communities, as the Tribal Affairs Ministry is still processing their cases. The amendment Bill proposes the modifications in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
The Tarun Gogoi Government, though, may face the heat over the Bill, as the demands for inclusion of six communities, including Koch Rajbongshis, Morans, Mataks, and Tea Tribes among others have been caught in a wrangle.
Announcing this, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources, Pawan Kumar Bansal said that another 34 Bills are proposed to be taken up for passage during the Session that would conclude on April 21. The Railway Budget and Economic Survey would be tabled on February 25 and General Budget on February 28.
Amidst uncertainty over the demand for Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G scam, the UPA Government is bracing for action during the Session that would have 29 sittings spread over two sessions with a recess of three weeks in between.
Though Bansal was guarded in his reaction on JPC probe demand, he said a decision would be arrived at by next Wednesday. With the UPA keen on smooth functioning of the Budget Session by accepting the Opposition�s demand for a JPC, Bansal said government has been talking to the Opposition.
The UPA Government�s trouble-shooters are on the job, as the government wants to avoid a repeat of the Winter Session, which was washed away. Though BJP has been vocal about expanding the ambit of JPC to cover Commonwealth Games and Adarsh Society scam, Bansal ruled out the possibility pointing out that rules permit JPC on a particular issue.
�During interaction the Opposition said they wanted to raise a number of issues and we have conveyed that the government is ready to discuss any issue and they should get in touch with the Speaker,� said Bansal.
