Parliament session to begin on stormy note PNB fraud and other fin scams are likely to dominate proceedings in both Houses

The second part of Parliament's budget session is set to begin on Monday on a stormy note with the opposition ready to corner the government on the issue of bank frauds.

As both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha meet after month-long recess, the multicrore PNB bank fraud and other financial scams are likely to dominate the proceedings in both the Houses.

The opposition and the government are likely to lock horns over the issue.

Opposition parties would demand answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on how the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and other banking scams took place under his watch and how the government failed to stop them.

Congress deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma has given a notice for a discussion on Monday under rule 267 of the House on the bank fraud issue.

The government, on its part, is seeking to counter the opposition offensive by bringing the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill.

The legislation, once passed, will grant powers to the government to attach assets of persons declared fugitive. This will include benami assets too.

The bill to target economic offenders was approved by the government following the fleeing of diamond merchant Nirav Modi and other accused in the over Rs 12,600crore Punjab National Bank scam.

The BJP has claimed that the PNB scam had started during the UPA rule and its government has acted swiftly after the fraud came out in the open.

The passage of the triple talaq bill will also be high on the government's agenda.

While the opposition has not planned any joint strategy so far, it is likely to meet in a day or two to chalk out a plan for the Parliament session.

Other issues that the opposition is likely to raise include those relating to crimes against Dalits and women. The issues of farmers distress, slowdown of the economy and rising unemployment were also expected to be raised by opposition benches.

The Congress will also raise the issue of "vendetta", alleging that the BJP-led government was targeting its political opponents. This comes in the wake of the arrest of Karti Chidambaram, the son of former finance minister P Chidambaram.

The second part of the session would primarily see the passage of the Union budget for 2018-19 and discussions on the demand for grants for various ministries.

The government, on its part, is seeking to counter the opposition offensive by bringing the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill.