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Government faces opposition heat over key reform bills; Left, JD-U to stall Insurance Bill

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MPs arrive for the winter session of Parliament on Monday. 1. Sachin Tendulkar 2. Manohar Parrikar 3. Smriti Irani, 4. Jaya Bachchan 5. Javed Akhtar. 6 Pritam Munde 7. Prime minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues
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The Modi government's reforms push seems to have hit a political hurdle. As the winter session of parliament began on Monday, Opposition parties tried to corner the government over legislations like insurance, which seeks to raise the FDI cap, GST and labour.

While the Congress, the largest Opposition party, said there was "no blank cheque" on support to insurance bill and GST, the Trinamool Congress, JD-U and Left are all set to try and block the bill. BSP chief Mayawati kept her cards close to her chest saying she will spell out her stand later.

As the government braced up to face the Opposition heat, prime minister Narendra Modi said, "All MPs have a responsibility to run the country. In cold climate with a calm mind we have to work; public has given us the task of running the government."

Parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu exuded confidence of winning Opposition support on the insurance bill. "We are committed. We want insurance reforms at the earliest and I am confident of getting the support of major opposition parties as they have all given a commitment," he said.

Sources said the government was prepared to talk to the Opposition parties though it was unlikely to reach out to Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.

After the insurance bill is approved by the Parliamentary select committee examining the legislation, it will have to face the numbers test in Rajya Sabha, where government is in minority. Less than 70 of the 240 members have come out in support of the bill. The Shiv Sena said it will not back the bill if the government did not include certain changes. The BSP, BJD and AIADMK, which together hold 32 seats, have yet to clarify their stand.

The Congress, which was keen on passage of the insurance bill when its government was in power, is now in no mood to give the BJP government an easy time. "There is no blank cheque in legislation or politics... God and the devil lie in the details," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi.

JD-U leader K C Tyagi said his party is against the Insurance Bill and has certain reservations on some provisions of the labour reform bills. He said efforts are on to put up a united opposition in the Upper House on certain key issues and talks are on between various parties including the Left in this regard. "There is no question of passing the bill. First let it be taken up, clause by clause, in the select committee," said Trinamool leader Derek O'Brien.

Opposition parties like Trinamool Congress and JD-U are also planning to take on the government on the issue of black money giving notices for suspension of Question Hour in Rajya Sabha to discuss this issue. However, sources said government may agree to a debate on black money.

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