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Oppn toughens stand as PM seeks productive session New Delhi, November 24 While the PM, looking at 37 Bills to be passed, reminded MPs of their “responsibility in running the nation” saying “he hoped good work would be done in a cool atmosphere and with cool minds”, the Congress slammed the BJP for “selective amnesia” on parliamentary disruption. “For two days, we have been hearing sermons from the PM on how significant it is to run Parliament. Such exalted sentiments were not forthcoming when the BJP was in the Opposition for 10 years during our rule,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said warning the government of disruptions on reform Bills with a rather caustic remark, “There is no blank cheque of support on the insurance or Goods and Services Tax Bills.” The Congress’ stand came after the JD-U and the TMC both gave notices in the Rajya Sabha for suspension of Question Hour tomorrow to discuss the black money issue while reiterating concerns around the FDI in insurance and labour reform Bill listed in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow. The combined JDU-TMC strategy came parallel to government’s statement at the Upper House’s Business Advisory Committee meeting that it wanted labour reforms to pass the House test by this week. Deeper signs of a larger Opposition unity appeared around evening with the Congress displaying rigidity about smooth passage of the insurance and the GST Bills which were piloted by its own previous UPA regime. “Although the GST Bill is our baby, much would depend on its details. Let us not forget how the BJP pettily opposed this Bill against public interest when we were in power against … Similarly about the insurance Bill which seeks to raise the FDI caps from 26 to 49 pc, it would be dangerous to talk in the abstract. Let details emerge,” Singhvi said, as the Congress, for the first time, adopted a tough public stance against financial reform agenda it championed. Singhvi further said the Select Committee report looking at the insurance Bill wasn’t binding on anyone as Parliament was supreme. Sources within the Congress indicated that there was behind-the-scenes engagement among the Congress, the TMC and the JD-U who have agreed to corner the government on black money and financial reform Bills. The breather for Modi, however, came from the BSP chief Mayawati who said she would take a stand on the legislations later. The Opposition is seeking to trouble the government in the Rajya Sabha where, unlike in the Lok Sabha, the BJP doesn’t have a majority. Behind-the-scenes engagement
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