New Delhi, July 20: The stage is set for a stormy Monsoon Session of Parliament as opposition parties have announced that they will aggressively press for discussions on a range of contentious public issues, including the alleged Ram Temple donation theft, the NEET paper leak controversy, concerns over E20 ethanol-blended petrol, student issues, and the situation in Manipur.
During an all-party meeting convened ahead of the Monsoon Session, opposition leaders staged a symbolic walkout to protest the government’s decision to invite rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs to the meeting. Leaders from the Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party, DMK, Left parties, RJD, AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT), JMM and other opposition parties later returned after registering their protest.
The all-party meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, was attended by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, Ministers of State L. Murugan and Arjun Ram Meghwal, along with representatives from around 40 political parties.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed to all political parties to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament, stating that the people of the country expect constructive debates rather than disruptions. He urged members to participate positively in discussions on government legislation and support the passage of bills after meaningful deliberations.
The government has listed eight bills for consideration during the Monsoon Session, while indicating that additional legislative business may be taken up after following due parliamentary procedures. Rijiju also said issues relating to delimitation and other legislative matters would be discussed in the Business Advisory Committee.
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said the opposition would seek detailed discussions on the alleged Ram Temple donation theft, the NEET examination paper leak, the E20 petrol issue, student-related concerns and the prevailing situation in Manipur. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also questioned the effectiveness of all-party meetings, alleging that opposition concerns are often not reflected in the government’s legislative agenda.
Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav demanded a debate on the alleged theft of Ram Temple donations and examination-related issues, while DMK leader Tiruchi Siva reiterated his party’s concerns regarding the proposed delimitation exercise, stating that it should not adversely affect southern states.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament begins on July 20 and is scheduled to continue until August 13, with both the government and the opposition preparing for intense debates on several political, economic and public interest issues.(KNC)
