New Delhi: The Winter Session of Parliament starting on Monday promises a stormy start, with the INDIA bloc gearing up for a major confrontation with the Narendra Modi-led government. While the government has presented a 16-bill legislative agenda, the opposition alliance is determined to utilise the session to highlight critical national issues, setting the stage for a potential parliamentary clash.
The Congress party, invigorated despite recent electoral setbacks in Haryana and Maharashtra, has signalled its intention to aggressively pursue key issues. High on the opposition’s agenda are discussions on the US indictment of the Adani Group for bribery charges and the ongoing crisis in Manipur, issues where the Congress believes the government remains vulnerable.
The party intends to use these points to corner the government in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Manipur issue is set to feature prominently, with the Congress and other opposition parties seeking to highlight the continued violence and its impact on neighbouring states. The INDIA bloc is also set to highlight the rising air pollution in north India.
Adding to the drama, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will make her Lok Sabha debut as the MP for Wayanad, replacing her brother Rahul Gandhi, who vacated the seat after winning Rae Bareli.
Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari demanded immediate attention to the Adani issue, stressing its severe implications for both national security and the economy. “The alleged payment of over Rs 2,300 crore by the Adani Group to politicians and bureaucrats to secure favourable deals for its solar energy projects is a matter of grave concern,” he stated.
Tiwari’s colleague, Gaurav Gogoi, called for a discussion on the ethnic violence in Manipur, pointing out the stark contrast in the government’s treatment of leaders across states. “While the Jharkhand CM was arrested, the Manipur CM remains in office despite ongoing ethnic strife,” Gogoi remarked. The Congress party also pushed for debate on the worsening air pollution in North India and the rising number of train accidents in the country.
The opposition’s strategy extends to scrutinising the government’s legislative agenda. Among the 16 bills listed by the Modi government is the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill. Facing divisions within the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) reviewing the bill, several opposition parties are urging caution, demanding an extension of the JPC’s deadline beyond the first week of the session to allow for more thorough consideration.
