I/II. http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/will-try-to-evolve-consensus-on-all-bills-during-parliament-s-winter-session-pm-113120500180_1.html
*ANI | New Delhi * *December 5, 2013* Last Updated at 11:25 IST 'Will try to evolve consensus on all bills during Parliament's Winter Session: PM Prime Minister Manmohan Singh<http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&q=Manmohan+Singh> said the government will make an effort to evolve a political consensus on all bills tabled by it inParliament<http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&q=Parliament> . Speaking ahead of the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament, Dr. Singh said: "This session of Parliament is of short duration, and therefore, it is obligatory on the part of all political parties represented in our Parliament to make their best possible efforts to get essential business of the two houses transacted as speedily and as smoothly as possible." In all, 38 bills, including the Lokpal Bill, the Women's Reservation Bill, the Bill for the creation of the new state of Telangana<http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&q=Telangana> and the Street Vendors Bill, are slated for passage during the session which will conclude on December 20. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath<http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&q=Kamal+Nath> had earlier this week said the government is determined to push through the Lokpal Bill and the Women's Reservation Bill during the Winter Session of Parliament. Nath also informed that all parties are in agreement that the session will continue for extended hours to expedite pending work. Nath said leaders of all political parties have assured that session will run smoothly. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, has demanded the passage of the Telangana Bill and the Lokpal Bill during the Winter Session. She said the Women's Reservation Bill, and issues such as the atrocities against women, inflation and unemployment should also be discussed. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury demanded the passage of pending public welfare bills. II. http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/pm-to-modi-will-evolve-broad-based-consensus-on-communal-violence-bill-113120500174_1.html *ANI | New Delhi * *December 5, 2013* Last Updated at 11:25 IST PM to Modi: Will evolve broad-based consensus on Communal Violence Bill Responding to Gujarat<http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&q=Gujarat> Chief Minister Narendra<http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&q=Narendra> Modi's criticism of the the government's Communal Violence Bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh <http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&q=Manmohan+Singh> on Thursday said it would be his endeavour to develop a broad-based consensus on the proposed legislation. Dr. Singh was responding to Modi, the BJP<http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&q=Bjp>'s prime ministerial candidate's, letter to him in which the Communal Violence Bill was termed as ill-conceived, poorly drafted and a recipe for disaster. Modi and the rest of the BJP top brass have claimed that the Bill could vitiate the atmosphere and polarise Indian society. Modi has joined the chief ministers of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu,Madhya Pradesh <http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&q=Madhya+Pradesh> and Odisha <http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&q=Odisha> in opposing the bill which they allege is a violation of India<http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&q=India>'s federal structure. The 'Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013' proposes to impose duties on the Centre and state governments and their officers to exercise their powers in an impartial and non-discriminatory manner to prevent and control targeted violence, including mass violence against religious or linguistic minorities, SCs and STs. The bill also proposes constitution of a body - National Authority for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparation - by the Centre to exercise the powers and perform the functions assigned to it under this Act. The bill largely sticks to the provisions prepared by Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC). In a series of tweets this morning, Modi hit out at the UPA Government for pushing ahead with the Communal Violence Bill. "Communal Violence Bill is ill-conceived, poorly drafted and a recipe for disaster! Timing of Communal Violence Bill is suspicious. Political considerations and votebank politics rather than genuine concerns are guiding it," he tweeted. "Communal Violence Bill is in clear violation of India's federal structure. Centre is busy forming laws on matters that are in the State List. If a Legislation has to be implemented by the States, should it not be legislated by the States?" "If implemented, Communal Violence Bill would fragment society and increase violence. It will have results opposite of the stated objective. Urged PM to seek wider consultation with the states and various stakeholders of the Bill before proceeding any further on a Bill like this," he added. In his letter to the Prime Minister, Modi described the bill as an attempt to encroach upon the authorities of the state governments and sought wider consultation among the various stakeholders such as the state governments, political parties, police and security agencies etc. before any further movement on the issue. The Gujarat Chief Minister said his government is sensitive to the issue of communal violence and agreed that there is a need to be vigilant on communal violence but the contents and timing of the bill are suspicious. He brought out the various operational issues in the proposed Prevention of Communal Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013. He shared various shortcomings in the individual sections of the proposed Bill. For example, the Section 3(f) that defines "hostile environment" is wide ranging, vague and open to misuse. Likewise, the definition of communal violence under Section 3 (d) read with Section 4 would raise questions on whether the Centre is introducing the concept of "thought crime" in the context of the Indian criminal jurisprudence. Strongly opposing the move to make public servants, police and security agencies criminally liable, Modi warned that such a move can adversely impact the morale of our law and order enforcement agencies. It may also make them vulnerable to political victimization. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
