UPA prepares ground, calls for all-party meet

Keen to ensure smooth running of the monsoon session of Parliament where several key bills are pending for clearance, the government has convened an all-party meeting on Thursday to prepare for the ground.

The session will start on August 5.

Finance minister P Chidambaram, parliamentary affairs Minister Kamal Nath and home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde will sit for talks with different parties even as Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is set to call another all-party meeting later this week.

With just 16 working days in the upcoming session, the government has a packed agenda and any loss of time due to Opposition-enduced disruptions can derail the passing of bills. For UPA, the top priority is to seek approval for the two ordinances -- food security, SEBI amendments -- and also try to pass the long-pending land acquisition bill, insurance and pension fund bills.

Ministers of state for Parliamentary Affairs Paban Singh Ghatowar and Rajiv Shukla will also attend the meeting.

On the other hand, the Opposition has already moved more than 300 notices for debates on a range of issues including FDI policy, autonomy of the CBI, children’s death due to mid-day meal and Uttarakhand flood management.

Adding to government’s woes, the Opposition still has a chance to seek a vote on the amendment of the FEMA regulations related to entry of FDI in multi-brand retail.

While the UPA is confident of JD (U), and estranged ally DMK’s support to get approval on food security ordinance, the Opposition is keen to use the FDI to isolate the government.