Monsoon Session may run into rough weather as Oppn gears up to confront govt

New Delhi : The Monsoon session of Parliament, getting underway on Monday, is likely to be bumpy with the opposition gearing up to confront the government over various issues, including farmers’ problems, handling of Covid pandemic, and fuel price hike even as the latter is preparing to get crucial bills passed.

Setting the tone for the session, the government on Sunday held an all-party meeting with the floor leaders of various parties and said it was ready to discuss any issue under the rules.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired the meeting, called for healthy discussions in Parliament and sought the cooperation of the leaders of all political parties.

“As per our traditions of a healthy democracy, issues concerning the people should be raised amicably, and the Government should be given the opportunity to respond to these discussions,” Mr Modi said.

From the government side, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi were among those who attended the meeting.

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, floor leaders of All India Trinamool Congress Derek O’ Brien, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s Tiruchi Siva, Bahujan Samaj Party’s Satish Mishra and Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav, among others, attended the meeting from the Opposition’s side.

After the all-party meeting, the opposition held a separate party in which several parties announced to move adjournment notices in both Houses of Parliament on Monday over farmers’ issues, RSP leader Premachandran said.
Of the several issues, the farmers’ agitation against the three contentious agri-laws and the unabated rising fuel prices are the most important issues and will be raised by the opposition during the session, he added.

The opposition meeting was attended by leaders of the Congress, TMC, NCP, CPI(M), CPI, IUML, RSP, Shiv Sena and the AAP.

Meanwhile, the Samkyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is leading the agitation against the three farm laws, has announced a peaceful march to Parliament tomorrow. During the monsoon session, every day 200 farmers will hold a ‘dharna’ outside Parliament demanding repeal of the three farm laws.

Ahead of the proposed agitation, the Delhi Police today held a discussion with the agitating farmers at the Singhu border which lasted for 45 minutes.

Interacting with the journalists, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait “The routes to be taken by protesters have to be discussed.”

According to reports, seven metro stations are under strict watch and maybe shut if required ahead of the farmers’ protest.

On Friday, the SKM had urged all Opposition Members of Parliament to raise farmers’ demands in Parliament and not stage a walkout.

A release by the SKM said, “SKM issues voters’ whip to all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members to raise farmers’ demands in both houses of Parliament and not walk out.”

The monsoon session will commence from Monday and continue till August 19. During the 19 sittings of the session, 31 government business items, including 29 Bills and two financial items, will be taken up. Six bills will be brought to replace the ordinances, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said.

Tribunal Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Bill, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, Essential Defence Service Bill, Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill and Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill are listed to be taken up during the session.

The House will see the new Cabinet of the Prime Minister. Over three dozen new faces were inducted into the Cabinet earlier this month in a massive rejig by Mr Modi.

Mr Modi, as per the convention, will introduce his new Cabinet to the members of the House on the first day of the session.

Also, those who became members of the Lok Sabha by winning by-polls that were held along with Assembly polls to four States in April this year will take the oath on Monday.

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