Govt to Push Citizenship Bill in Winter Session Starting 18 Nov

An all-party meeting was held on Sunday ahead of the Winter Session.

Image of the Parliament used for representational purposes.

(Photo: IANS)

The situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the economic slowdown, the high unemployment rate and the government's plan to bring in the Citizenship Bill are some of the issues which are likely to emerge as flash-points between the Opposition and treasury benches in the Winter Session of the Parliament beginning Monday, 18 November.

This is the second Parliament session of the BJP-led NDA government which returned to power with a greater mandate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Citizenship Bill on Agenda

In the session beginning on Monday, the government is set to push for the passage of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, a key BJP plank which is aimed to grant nationality to non-Muslim immigrants from neighbouring countries.

The government has listed the Bill in its items of business for the session, official sources said, PTI reported.

The government had introduced the Bill in its previous tenure as well but could not push it through due to vehement protests by Opposition parties, which criticised the Bill as being discriminatory on religious grounds.

The Bill had lapsed following the dissolution of the last Lok Sabha.

The legislation seeks to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan if they have fled their respective country due to religious persecution.

Other Expected Legislations

Besides the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) bill, the government also plans to convert two crucial ordinances into law during the session.

One ordinance reducing corporate tax rate for new and domestic manufacturing companies to arrest slowdown in the economy and boost growth was issued in September to give effect to amendments in the Income Tax Act, 1961 and Finance Act, 2019.

The second ordinance, also issued in September, banned the sale, manufacture and storage of E-cigarettes and similar products.

All-Party Meeting Ahead of Session

Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday assured at the all-party meeting that the government is open to discussing all issues.

At the government-convened meeting, the Opposition demanded that the issues of economic slowdown, job loss and farm distress must be discussed during the session, Congress’ leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

Opposition parties also raised the issue of Farooq Abdullah's detention and demanded that he be allowed to attend the session, but got no definite response from the government, news agency PTI reported, quoting sources.

Chirag Paswan Demands NDA Convenor

The constituent parties of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also held a meeting ahead of the session wherein newly appointed Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) Chief Chirag Paswan demanded for appointment of an NDA convenor.

Paswan, speaking to reporters after an NDA meeting ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, said Shiv Sena's absence was felt at the meet as it is one of the oldest National Democratic Alliance member.

"There should be better coordination among allies and an NDA convener should be appointed," he said.

“It’s a matter of concern that the Telugu Desam Party left the alliance first and then the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party did,” Paswan added. 

“But all of us (allies) will work together in the upcoming Session and more such meetings should happen,” he stated.