New Delhi: The Congress party expressed its disappointment on Wednesday regarding the Central government’s decision to convene a special session of Parliament without sharing the agenda. Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi has taken the initiative by writing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which she has highlighted nine critical issues that require in-depth discussion.
During a press conference held in New Delhi, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated, “A meeting of the Parliamentary Strategy Group took place on Tuesday, with Sonia Gandhi presiding and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in attendance. The primary purpose of this meeting was to discuss the agenda for the forthcoming Parliament Special Session. Subsequently, Kharge convened a meeting of floor leaders from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to deliberate on India’s strategy during the session.”
Ramesh emphasized, “We have decided not to boycott the session, as it presents an opportunity for us to raise important issues. We intend to encourage different parties to address various concerns. Furthermore, Sonia Gandhi will communicate the outcomes of the INDIA meeting to the Prime Minister through a letter.”
“Sonia Gandhi’s letter to Prime Minister Modi was sent this morning, outlining nine key issues that we intend to raise in Parliament,” added Ramesh.
In her letter, Sonia Gandhi expressed her concern over the special five-day session of Parliament scheduled to commence on September 18, 2023. She pointed out that this session was convened without any consultation with other political parties, leaving them unaware of the agenda. The communication received merely indicated that all five days were allocated for Government Business.
Sonia Gandhi emphasized the Congress party’s desire to participate in the Special Session to address matters of public importance, including the current economic situation with a focus on rising prices of essential commodities, increasing unemployment, growing inequalities, and the distress faced by MSMEs. She also mentioned the commitment made by the Government of India to farmers and their organizations regarding Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and other demands, as well as the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate Adani Group’s transactions in light of recent revelations.
In addition to these concerns, Sonia Gandhi listed five other demands, including the ongoing troubles faced by the people of Manipur and the breakdown of Constitutional machinery and social harmony in the state. She also highlighted the rise in communal tension in various states, the continued occupation of Indian territory by China, and challenges to India’s sovereignty on its borders in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. The letter also stressed the urgent need for a Caste Census, the damages being inflicted on Centre-State relations, and the impact of natural disasters, such as extreme floods and droughts in different states.
“I earnestly hope that in the spirit of constructive cooperation, these issues will be addressed during the upcoming special session,” Sonia Gandhi stated in her letter.
Ramesh further noted that various state-specific issues, such as Tamil Nadu’s NEET and Maharashtra’s reservation issue, should also be considered during the session.
“We anticipate a response from the government, and we hope that the Parliament session will not be limited to government business alone, which would be unfortunate,” Ramesh concluded.
When asked about Prime Minister Modi’s statement regarding his re-election in the upcoming general elections, Ramesh commented, “The Prime Minister’s recent actions and decisions, such as the INDIA Group meetings and the unilateral call for a Special Session, reflect panic and fatigue on his part. He seems to have become anxious following these meetings in Bihar’s Patna, Karnataka’s Bengaluru, and Maharashtra’s Mumbai. His exhaustion and unease are quite evident.”