The INDIA bloc floor leaders on Wednesday discussed the option of halting their protest in the Lok Sabha to participate in the discussion on the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which the government is planning to take up for consideration and passing. By Wednesday evening, the Opposition side indicated further encouragement for participation in the House proceedings by saying the government has signalled readiness to extend the term of the House committee, which is examining the contentious Waqf(Amendment) Bill.
While the House not functioning on Wednesday due to Opposition protest meant the listed Banking Bill, aiming to make significant changes to several key banking regulations, was not taken up, many at the INDIA bloc meeting favoured participating in the particular legislative business next time. They felt the government could take up the bill any time from Thursday. At the meeting, convened by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and attended among others by Rahul Gandhi, many Opposition floor leaders also opined that in the House discussion on the Banking Laws Bill, besides registering their opposition to certain aspects of the proposed legislation, it can also be used to refer to the “Adani issue” and their concerns about the functioning of the Securities and Exchange Board of India. A formal decision on the matter will be taken at the INDIA bloc leaders meet on Thursday morning. The Trinamool once again skipped the meet. “At our floor leaders’ meeting, many, including some Congress representatives, said we should participate in the discussion on the Banking Bill, which is an important legislation and about which we have important views to register in the House. Many also felt that since the Speaker won’t accept the Opposition demand for adjournment motion on the Adani issue, the discussion on the Banking Bill can be used to raise the Adani issue in the broader framework of functioning of the banks and regulatory body,” said a participant at the Opposition meeting. “It is also not a secret that the Congress leadership wants the House to be in order on Thursday morning when Priyanka Gandhi Vadra takes oath as member of the Lok Sabha from Wayanad,” said another leader of an INDIA bloc ally.
The SP representatives told the meeting that the party MPs would want to stage a protest in the LS on Thursday by raising the issue of Sambal violence and demanding a discussion on the matter.
