Ahead of the Parliament’s Monsoon session, the Congress party on Sunday demanded the position of Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker for the opposition. This demand was made during the all-party meeting convened by the government, news agency PTI reported citing sources. Additionally, the Congress raised concerns about various paper leaks, including the prestigious NEET exam.

Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, emphasised at the meeting that the opposition should be permitted to raise issues in Parliament. This call came after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought cooperation from all parties for the smooth functioning of the two Houses, according to PTI sources.

Addressing reporters post-meeting, Rijiju stated that 55 leaders from 44 parties attended the meeting, where meaningful discussions took place. He stressed that ensuring the smooth operation of Parliament is a collective responsibility of both the government and the opposition, and the government is open to discussing any issue within the prescribed rules.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who chaired the meeting, referred to the opposition’s disruptions during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in the last session and urged that such incidents should not recur in Parliament, PTI reported.

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During the discussions, Samajwadi Party MP Ramgopal Yadav raised the issue of the Uttar Pradesh government’s directive to eateries on the ‘kanwariya’ route to display the owners’ names. Meanwhile, the YSR Congress (YSRCP) highlighted alleged targeting of its leaders by the TDP government in Andhra Pradesh and requested the Centre’s intervention. Claiming that lawlessness prevails in the state, YSRCP suggested that the President’s rule is the only solution, PTI’s report stated.

YSRCP MP Vijaysai Reddy also addressed the issue of central funds for Andhra Pradesh, stating that states adhering to population control measures are being penalised in revenue allocation. He urged the Finance Commission to rectify this imbalance, as per the report.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) raised concerns about an alleged assault on an officer by the Odisha governor’s son, questioning if he was above the law. BJD MP Sasmit Patra affirmed that his party would play a robust opposition role in the House, clarifying that BJD is neither aligned with the opposition INDIA Bloc nor the government.

JD(U) And YSRCP Demand Special Category Status For Bihar And Andhra Pradesh: Jairam Ramesh

Separately, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh mentioned that both JD(U) and YSRCP demanded special category status for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, respectively, during the all-party meeting. Interestingly, the TDP remained silent on this matter. Ramesh, in a post on X, remarked, “In today’s all-party meeting of floor leaders chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the JD(U) leader demanded special category status for Bihar. The YSRCP leader demanded special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Strangely, the TDP leader kept quiet on the matter.”

In the all-party meeting of floor leaders chaired by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the universal demand was for the constitution of the 24 Department-Related Standing Committees and giving them their due importance. There was also an universal demand for reviving the…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 21, 2024

He further noted the shifting political climate, citing the BJD’s reminder to the Defence Minister and BJP President JP Nadda about the BJP’s 2014 assembly election manifesto promise to grant special category status to Odisha. The JD(U), a crucial ally in the ruling NDA, recently passed a resolution demanding special category status or a package for Bihar.

Ramesh also mentioned a “universal demand” to reopen the Central Hall for MPs to mingle, lamenting that the historic hall has fallen into disuse since the new Parliament building opened. “Historic Central Hall has sadly fallen into disuse after opening of new Parliament building,” he stated.

The political rivalry between TDP and YSRCP surfaced again, with TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu announcing that the Andhra Pradesh government will soon release a white paper on the state’s finances. He claimed this would send shockwaves and requested adequate time in Parliament to discuss Andhra Pradesh’s financial situation, indirectly pointing fingers at the previous YSR government, the report stated.

Among the notable attendees were Nadda, Gogoi, Union minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan, along with Defence Minister Singh and Rijiju, who presented the government’s perspective. Other prominent leaders present included Congress party’s Ramesh and K Suresh, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, RJD’s Abhay Kushwaha, JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, SP’s Ramgopal Yadav, and NCP’s Praful Patel.

The session, starting Monday and running until August 12, will feature 19 sittings. During this period, the government is expected to present six bills, including one to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act, and seek Parliament’s approval for the budget of Jammu and Kashmir, which is currently under central rule. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget and table the Economic Survey in Parliament on Monday. 

A united opposition is poised to confront the NDA government on issues such as the NEET paper leak and railway safety during this session.