Somnath plans early to break ice

Not sure which way the Winter Session, beginning on December 1, is headed, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has already called two meetings with t...

Not sure which way the Winter Session, beginning on December 1, is headed, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has already called two meetings with the ruling party and the Opposition on October 26 and 27 to chalk out a compromise plan.

By calling separate meetings with the Congress and the BJP, Chatterjee expects to not only figure out the mood in the two camps but also do the groundwork for the November 8 meeting, where a code of conduct for parliamentarians would be discussed to avoid disruptions in proceedings.

The Speaker is also expected to meet leaders of other political parties to evolve a consensus on the code of conduct. But the BJP is already making noises about a code of conduct in place for parliamentarians, evolved by former Speaker G.M. Balayogi.

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Strongly denying that the Winter Session has been curtailed (it was originally scheduled to meet on November 22), the Parliamentary Affairs officials said the session has never been held for more than 20 days in the past six years. It would have been called on November 29, but both the Prime Minister and the Speaker are going away on short trips and won’t be back before November 30.

The session, the Ministry officials said, has been kept open ended. That is, it can resume after a Christmas break ‘‘provided there is unfinished business’’ and if the Opposition allows it to continue.

Not ruling out fireworks, BJP’s deputy leader in Lok Sabha Vijay Kumar Maholtra said: ‘‘We are keen to have debates on inflation, foreigners being put on the Planning Commission panels, reduction of the PF rates and also the tapping of phones of Opposition leaders. These are our issues now.’’

The BJP, he said, is willing to coordinate with the Samajwadi Party and the Left Parties on these issues. ‘‘We do not practice untouchability!’’

Common supplies to joint training: Armed Forces look at steps ahead of theatrisation

India3 hr ago

Indian Armed Forces are working towards greater jointness and integration among the Army, Navy, and Air Force through standardizing equipment, supply chains, and training. The Combined Commanders Conference discussed measures to improve understanding and create theatre commands.

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