Parliament says no to Winter Session, but State Assemblies say aye to short sessions

NEW DELHI: The Centre may have decided not to hold the winter session of Parliament citing the Covid pandemic but several state assemblies, including those of BJP-ruled states, have gone ahead with a short session to conduct crucial business. This has lent credence to the charge that the Modi government did not want to hold even a short session as it feared stormy scenes due to the ongoing farmers’ agitation.

However, in all cases the ruling party in the state held the session as it wanted key legislations, like the bill against “love jihad” and supplementary budgets, or resolutions (e.g. against the three farm laws in non-BJP ruled states) passed. In all cases, be it Parliament or a state assembly, the opposition wanted the winter session to be held and the government concerned bowed to the demand ostensibly only to pass its favoured bills.

Covid-19 does not appear to have been a factor in determining whether the session should be held though in some cases session was deferred after announcement as there was a spurt in cases.

After turning down a request from the LDF government in Kerala to hold a session, governor Arif Mohammad Khan gave his nod for a one-day sitting on December 31, when a fresh proposal was made. The Pinarayi Vijayan government intends to pass a resolution against the three farm laws and demand that these be repealed.

BJP-ruled Assam began a three-day winter session on Monday. Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma moved The Assam Repealing Bill, 2020, on the first day to abolish government-funded and private Madrassas regulated by the now defunct State Madrassa Education Board. The government has 11 other bills on its agenda.

Madhya Pradesh, another BJP-ruled state, had called a three-day winter session from December 28 but it was deferred after five MLAs and 60 secretariat staff members tested positive for Covid-19. The decision to defer the session was taken at an all-party meeting on December 27. On top of the government agenda was the Freedom to Religion Bill 2020 that aims to punish “love jihad.” The Shivraj Singh Chouhan Cabinet has now approved an ordinance.

BJP-ruled Karnataka also held a short winter session from December 7 that saw violent scenes and flouting of all social distancing norms. Though the assembly was scheduled to meet for seven days, it was cut short by three days in view of the gram panchayat elections. The BS Yeddyurappa government could not pass the anti-cow slaughter bill in the Vidhan Parishad as JDS objected to it. The state cabinet has now taken the ordinance route.

Delhi held a one-day special session on December 17 to discuss the alleged misappropriation of approximately 2,457 crore by the three municipal corporations controlled by BJP.

The Bihar assembly met for five days starting November 23 for the oath-taking of MLAs, election of the Speaker and other essential business. The governor’s address was delivered on November 26, followed by a vote of thanks and the second supplementary demand for grants.

Andhra had a productive session for five days from November 30 that passed 19 bills. Odisha held its session from November 20 and passed supplementary demands for grants and had on its agenda five bills and bills on three ordinances promulgated earlier. Uttarakhand held a three-day session from December 21 though Congress demanded extension by another five days to discuss graft cases and appointment of a Lokayukta.

Haryana had held its monsoon session late in November and used this pretext to not hold the winter session, thus depriving Congress the opportunity to carry out its threat of moving a no-confidence motion against the Manohar Lal government.