The Winter Session of Parliament begins under a cloud of contention. Opposition parties have laid down clear demands, threatening to disrupt proceedings if their voices are not heard.
During a crucial all-party meeting convened by the government, the opposition pressed for a debate on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. They indicated that the functioning of both Houses would be hampered without this discussion.
National security, in the wake of the recent Delhi blast incident, was another major point of contention. Parties strongly pressed for this topic to be addressed on the floor of Parliament.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called the all-party meeting a mere formality. He criticized the government’s approach to setting the agenda.
Ramesh stated the Modi government made its intentions clear by listing a subject for short-duration discussion without any consultation. This lack of dialogue has set a confrontational tone for the short session.
He noted this fifteen-day session would be the shortest in parliamentary history. The government has listed thirteen bills for passage, with ten not examined by the relevant Standing Committees.
Ramesh also raised the possibility of an unlisted bill being introduced later in the session. This prospect adds to the opposition’s concerns about procedural transparency.
Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi leveled serious allegations against the ruling party. He claimed the government seeks to finish off democracy and bury parliamentary traditions.
Gogoi outlined five key discussion demands from the Congress party. These include national security, air pollution, voter list purity, farmers’ issues, and foreign policy.
He emphasized the need for a discussion on the security of democracy itself. Gogoi accused the Election Commission of acting in a biased manner and stressed the importance of a pure voter list.
Economic security for farmers and security against natural disasters were also highlighted. The Congress leader further raised concerns about India’s foreign policy direction.
Gogoi asserted the opposition is united in its stance. He stated they do not want the temple of democracy used only to sing paeans of just one person.
The Samajwadi Party adopted a firm position on the SIR issue. Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav declared they would not allow Parliament to function without a discussion on it.
Yadav asserted the government cannot shy away from discussing the SIR process. He emphasized it is being conducted by the Election Commission and is a matter of public interest.
Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee questioned the value of the Opposition if Parliament functions only with the government’s consent. He criticized the allocation of time, claiming seventy percent is taken by treasury benches.
Banerjee called for an elaborate discussion on national security. He also criticized the SIR process, noting concerns about name deletions and the reported deaths of booth-level officers.
He described the all-party meeting as having become just a ritual. Banerjee hit out at the government’s rhetoric on issues like infiltration, calling it drama.
When asked about stalling Parliament, Banerjee said he hoped good sense would prevail. The TMC is not explicitly threatening a stall but is demanding discussion.
DMK’s Tiruchi Siva pointed out the common issue uniting the opposition is the SIR. This highlights a rare moment of consensus among diverse political parties against the government’s agenda.
CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar echoed the calls for debate on national security, SIR irregularities, and air pollution. The opposition’s demands are clear and multifaceted as the session begins.
The stage is set for a tense and potentially disruptive parliamentary session. The government’s response to these demands will determine the productivity of the next fifteen days.