Govt appeals to Opp: Shun ‘ tokenism’ in House panels

Triple Talaq Bill to get a renewed push

On the eve of the Budget Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged all political parties to prevent “tokenism” in different parliamentary committees and to offer concrete solutions to issues of national importance brought before these panels. His comments are significant in view of the government’s determination to push through the triple talaq bill, which the Opposition is adamant on having referred to a select committee.

On Sunday, the government made a fresh pitch for the bill’s passage in the Budget Session, saying it would talk to various parties to evolve a consensus on the matter.

At an all- party meeting here, Mr Modi appealed to all the leaders present to develop the committee system of Parliament as a role model of participative democracy.

The Opposition parties on their part raised issues like Jammu and Kashmir, the Women’s Reservation Bill, the crisis in the judiciary and the Scheduled Castes Bill, sources in the Opposition said.

A government statement said that there was a consensus across party lines on ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament without disruptions and deadlocks, to be resolved via constructive discussions in

both Houses. The government has requested all parties, specially the Opposit- ion, for their cooperation for the smooth working of the House, parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar said. The Budget Session will be from January 29 to April 6, with a recess in between.

There will be a total of 31 sittings spread over a period of 68 days. The session will see the presentation of the Union Budget as well as the Economic Survey.

Among the bills to be taken up are the Constitution ( Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order ( Amendment) Bill 2016, the Factories ( Ame- ndment) Bill 2014, the Inter- State River Water Disputes ( Amendment) Bill 2017 and the Whistle Blowers Protection ( Amendment) Bill 2015.