Stage set for no work in Parliament

NEW DELHI, DEC 12: The showdown between Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha RLM over the Women...

NEW DELHI, DEC 12: The showdown between Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha RLM over the Women8217;s Reservation Bill has put paid to the Vajpayee Government8217;s hopes of finally getting down to business in Parliament next week.

At stake are two important Bills 8211; the Insurance Regulatory Act and the Patents Bill 8211; and the Prime Minister8217;s statement on the Indo-US dialogue which will be followed by a discussion on the Government8217;s foreign policy. But with Banerjee and the RLM on the warpath, nothing is expected to come up, at least for the first half of the week. As a precaution, the Government is likely to list the IRA only on Tuesday8217;s agenda instead of Monday as promised. And it is considering introducing the Patents Bill in the Rajya Sabha first.

Another casualty will be the Standing Committee report on the repeal of the Urban Land Ceiling Act which is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament early next week.

Although the Lok Sabha Speaker has called a meeting of allparty leaders on Monday morning, political circles do not see a compromise emerging. The drama will have to play itself out before the warring parties agree to let Parliament get on with its business. As for the Women8217;s Reservation Bill, it seems doomed unless the Government steels itself to move the draft legislation come what may.

Yesterday8217;s unseemly incident in the Lok Sabha when Banerjee collared a Samajwadi Party member, Daroga Prasad Saroj, in the well of the House has toughened the resolve of rival parties for and against the Women8217;s Bill.The RLM has threatened to stall Parliament from Monday unless the 8220;strictest possible action8221; is taken against Banerjee for her 8220;unparliamentary behaviour8221;. Banerjee, on the other hand, has warned the Government that she will not allow any legislative business unless the Women8217;s Bill is moved first. Banerjee, who left for Calcutta today, is believed to have made her position clear to the Government before leaving. As many as 44 bills are waiting to be passed byParliament.