PM Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in the Rajya Sabha today, but the ruling BJP has decided that it will not "not give an inch", said sources, on the opposition's demand for a statement from him on religious conversions.
Top leaders in the government decided not to give in to the opposition's demand after an assessment that the repeated calls for an intervention by the PM is an attempt to build a perception that he is not in control of members of his party and the government.
There are four working days left of the Winter session of Parliament and the government needs to push a number of key legislation, including major economic reforms. For days now, a united opposition has disrupted proceedings in the Rajya Sabha or Upper House of Parliament over various issues - including the repatriation of black money, hate speech by a BJP lawmaker and lately, the conversion issue.
It has rejected statements made by senior ministers, demanding that the PM come to the House and speak.
The BJP-led NDA government is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha and needs the support of other parties to push through Bills in that House. It expects a showdown on its key reform, the Insurance Bill, which 105 of the 250 lawmakers in the Upper House are opposed to, including the Congress' 66. Less than 70 support it.
The government, said sources, is even looking at the option of pushing the Insurance Bill, which seeks to raise a cap on foreign direct investment in insurance from existing 26 per cent to 49 per cent, as an Ordinance or executive order after the session if the logjam does not end.
Ahead of the session, the government had detailed 37 bills - most of which remain pending, including the Goods and Services Bill and the one to replace the Coal Ordinance.
The Goods and Services Bill is a major tax reform that requires a constitutional amendment to be approved by Parliament. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has worked long hours to bring states on board on the measure so that he can get Parliament's go-ahead in this session.
The union cabinet approved the GST bill last night. The government is expected to take the bill first for introduction to the Lok sabha where it is in majority.
The Opposition had made it clear at the start of the Winter session that it planned to block the government's efforts to move key legislation. It has managed to show rare unity in doing. The session ends on December 23, and most of the 22 sittings have been marred by opposition protests especially in the Rajya Sabha.