Winter Session of Parliament starts today

New Delhi, Oct 17 : The winter session of the Parliament beginning from today is likely to be stormy on a number of issues like communal violence, terror attacks and price rise.

Parliament had last met on August 22-23 to decide the fate of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Government, following the confidence motion brought about by Opposition parties, including the Left and BJP.

Other issues that are expected to be taken up for discussion during the Session include the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement, attacks on the Christians in Orissa and Karnataka, recent blasts and matters related to internal security, financial matters in the back drop of global crisis.

The main Opposition party the BJP will train its guns on the UPA Government, raising issues like terrorism, the financial crisis, internal security and increase in inflation. It will also highlight discrepancies in the loan waiver scheme and the recent incidents of violence in Assam.

The session will have 24 sittings spread over 36 days till November 21. During the session, 71 legislative, two financial and one non-legislative item have been identified to be taken up.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vyalar Ravi said that the UPA Government planned to introduce 16 new bills during the Session, including the Prevention of Corruption Amendment Bill, the Representation of the People, second amendment Bill, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill and Prevention of Money Laundering amendment Bill.

ANI