New Delhi: The die has been cast for another season of confrontation in the upcoming winter session of Parliament, with opposition parties, buoyed after the spectacular victory in Bihar assembly polls, seeking a debate on intolerance in both the upper and the lower houses.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has signalled it will take the battle to the opposition parties and argue that some of them, like the Congress, have a long history of intolerance and are equally deserving of rebuke.

Accordingly, the ruling coalition has decided to use the opportunity to discuss the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 following the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi and demand justice for the victims.

The winter session will start on 26 November and will continue till 23 December.

“We are open to debate and this issue must be taken up in the Parliament during this session. We only want that discussion should not be limited to recent acts of violence and intolerance but the issue of anti-Sikh riots of 1984 must also be discussed. Sikhs have been waiting for justice for the last 30 years and there should be an end to their wait. The discussion should lead to action and people who were involved in the riots must also be punished," said an NDA leader who is part of the Parliament strategy of the ruling alliance on condition of anonymity.

Leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are worried the electoral drubbing it suffered in Bihar could encourage opposition parties, especially the Congress, Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to be more aggressive in parliament.

Both the Congress and the Left parties are ready with their motions to initiate a debate on the issue and will pursue the issue both inside and outside parliament.

“We have submitted a notice to the Lok Sabha’s secretary general on the issue of intolerance. We have condemned recent incidents including death of (M.M.) Kalburgi and Govind Pansare. We have also mentioned that no action has been taken against several controversial statements made by senior ministers," said a Congress leader, requesting anonymity.

The Congress has submitted the notice under rule 93 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, which considers any matter of “urgent public importance."

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPM, led by general secretary Sitaram Yechury, has submitted a motion for a resolution against rising intolerance in the country in the Rajya Sabha.

“There are many issues but the CPM will particularly focus on the issue of intolerance. The idea of India has been attacked while the government of India continues to be in denial mode. Our party has been raising the issue of intolerance since this government has come to power. Our general secretary has also filed a motion for discussion," said a CPM leader and lawmaker.

“The issue of intolerance is a vital issue and the governments response has been unsatisfactory. No body has condemned these actions and their ministers have continued to make derogatory remarks. Even the prime minister has not spoken against these issues. Hence, we have to raise them in the Parliament," the leader added.

In the 245-seat Rajya Sabha, the NDA has only 64 members, clearly outnumbered by the opposition.

“It will be a difficult winter session for the NDA government with many adjournments and logjams in the month-long session. The tussle between the government and opposition will also impact the reform agenda of the government, especially crucial bills such as constitutional amendment bill to rollout goods and services tax (GST). The government has to come up with a plan to allow discussion and not confrontation," said Badri Narayan, political science professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

In a separate development, President Pranab Mukherjee, speaking in the backdrop of writers and intellectuals returning their awards claiming a loss of creative freedom, said that debates and discussions should be the solution.

“Sensitive minds sometimes get disturbed by some incidents in society. But, expression of concern over such events should be balanced," he said in a function to mark the National Press Day. “Emotions should not overrun reason, and disagreement should be expressed through debate and discussion."

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