The winter session of Parliament will begin on Wednesday with the Congress preparing to corner the government on a host of issues, including the border situation with China, while the Center plans to introduce 16 bills.
The session begins a day before the counting of votes for the assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Exit polls have predicted a landslide victory for the BJP in Gujarat and a neck-to-neck fight in Himachal Pradesh.
An all-party meeting was called by the government on Tuesday, where the Center assured the opposition that it would discuss price rise, unemployment and the situation on the China-India border as per the rules and norms. Parliament.
While the Biju Janata Dal (BJP) demanded passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Shiv Sena’s Shinde faction wanted the Population Control Bill to be cleared during the winter session.
Union Minister and Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh, who chaired the meeting, where leaders of over 30 parties were present, sought cooperation from all parties for the smooth conduct of the session.
Both the Congress and the Trinamool Congress raised the issue of alleged misuse of investigative agencies, which was supported by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and several other parties.
The winter session will continue till December 29, with 17 sittings in 23 days.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had said the party would raise issues related to the economic situation in the country, “weakening” of constitutional institutions and reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). He had also said that if the government is ready for discussion, the party will give it constructive support.
Congress will also raise the issue of high inflation and price rise, falling value of rupee, falling exports and high Goods and Services Tax rates.
Of the 17 bills that the government has listed for consideration in the session, the Congress said it opposes three bills — the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the Bill Is. Forest Conservation Amendment Bill, 2022.
“We want these bills to be sent to standing committees. These Bills need further discussion and the Congress cannot support them in their present form.
Congress leader and MP from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi Not likely to attend the session in view of Bharat Jodo Yatra.
(With PTI inputs)
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