Expressing disappointment over Centre's decision to refrain from discussiong the agendas of the much controversial special parliament session, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi. It has been reported that the letter also included nine other issues awaiting discussion.
Moreover, Gandhi also explicitly expressed the INDIA bloc's willingness to join the special parliamentary session and utilise the opportunity to raise pressing matters of public concern.
Earlier today, it was reported that Sonia Gandhi would write to PM Modi for early passage of the women's reservation bill in the Lok Sabha during the upcoming session as the same has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha.
At a press conference, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said," Sonia Gandhi has mentioned in the letter (to PM Modi) that the session has been called without any prior discussion with the opposition. She has also sought details of the agenda of the session."
Yesterday, a meeting was held at senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's residence where the Opposition parties of the INDIA alliance decided to ask the Centre to maintain transparency in the matter of the agenda of the special parliament session and not keep the country in the dark.
The much controversial special session of Parliament is scheduled to be held between September 18 to 22.
About the meeting at Gandhi's residence
During the meeting, the opposition parties unanimously decided to move together in the upcoming session and also raise the Adani issue.
The decision of holding the first INDIA parties' joint public rally in Madhya Pradesh and the next meeting in Bhopal were also taken during the meeting.
Congress leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, Pramod Tiwari, Ravneet Bittu, besides Tiruchi Siva and T R Baalu of DMK, Supriya Sule of NCP, Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha of AAP, Sitaram Yechury of CPI-M, Manoj Jha of RJD, Mahua Majhi of JMM, Derek O'Brien of TMC, Binoy Viswam of CPI, Ram Gopal Yadav of SP, Vaiko of VCK, N K Premchandran of RSP, were present during the meeting.
Earlier, the Congress decided to participate in the special session, but made it clear that it won't sit there only for "Modi chalisa" and want that issues of public concern be also raised during the five-day sitting.
The party's stance was decided at a strategy group meeting chaired by Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Kharge, where leaders of the Congress in both Houses were also present.
Who said what?
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in the meeting expressed disappointment over the fact that the Narendra Modi government is convening a special session of the Parliament for the first time without spelling out the agenda.
"No one from any opposition party has been consulted or informed. This is not the way to run a democracy," he said after the meeting.
"Everyday, this government plants a story in media of a prospective ‘agenda’, thereby creating a smokescreen of diversion from real issues burdening the people.
The BJP wants to keep key issues like price rise, unemployment, Manipur, China’s transgressions, CAG reports, scams and weakening of institutions aside and cheat our people," he noted.
"The INDIA parties discussed the way forward for the special session. We shall not be deterred in raising people’s issues, we intend to keep our focus on these. Let the BJP know — Bharat Judega, INDIA Jeetega," Kharge said.
After the meeting, Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi later told reporters that floor leaders of INDIA alliance parties in both Houses questioned why this special session is being convened and the government has not clarified on it yet.
"We demand that the BJP should show transparency and tell the country what is the agenda of this special session. The INDIA alliance has agreed that we want a constructive session that could help in the progress of the country and is in its interest," he told reporters.
