At All-Party Meeting, Rajnath Singh Stresses Centre’s Push For Healthy Discussion In Winter Session

The Winter Session will commence on November 29 and is scheduled to conclude on December 23.

New Delhi: 42 leaders from 31 political parties attended the all-party meeting convened on Sunday ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament.

“31 parties participated in the all-party meeting today. 42 leaders from various parties participated in a constructive discussion,” Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi told news agency ANI. 

“The government is ready for any discussions permitted by the Chairman and the Speaker without any disruptions,” he added. 

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not present in the meeting, leaders of various political parties including Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, and Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury were in attendance.

Addressing the all-party meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underlined that the government wants healthy discussion in Parliament. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi requested parties’ cooperation for the smooth functioning of the House.

“After listening to points raised by the leaders of all parties attending, Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Minister for Defence, expressed his appreciation that the discussion had been very healthy and that important issues had been flagged. He noted that the parties had expressed the need for more discussion in Parliament with regard to which, he underlined that the government also wants healthy discussion in Parliament,” an official statement by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs informed.

The Winter Session will commence on November 29 and is scheduled to conclude on December 23. The BJP-led Union government has a heavy agenda for the Winter Session with its legislative business including 26 new bills. 

Centre has indicated that the bill to repeal three farm laws will be taken up on priority. The bill was cleared by the union cabinet earlier this week. Besides this, the government’s agenda also includes the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021. 

BJP and Congress both have issued a three-line whip to its MPs asking them to be present in both the Houses of the Parliament on November 29. 

Opposition’s Demands

In the all-party meeting, the Opposition demanded compensation for the families of COVID-19 victims and the farmers who lost their lives during the protest against the three agrarian laws.

“Many issues including, inflation, fuel price hike, farmers’ issues and COVID19 were raised in the all-Party meeting today. All parties demanded that a law guaranteeing MSP should be made,” Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said, as quoted by ANI.

Most opposition parties also reportedly demanded a discussion on the Pegasus snooping row, price rise and unemployment.

As per news agency PTI, the prominent opposition leaders present at the customary session-eve meet included Mallikarjun Kharge, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Anand Sharma from the Congress, TR Baalu and Tiruchi Siva from DMK, Sharad Pawar from NCP, Vinayak Raut from Shiv Sena, Ramgopal Yadav from Samajwadi Party, Satish Mishra from BSP, Prasanna Acharya from BJD and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah.

The agency cited sources as saying that the opposition leaders also raised the issue of extended jurisdiction of the Border Security Force in some states, including West Bengal.

Trinamool Congress leaders Sudip Bandopadhyay and Derek O’Brien were said to have raised the issue of bringing laws on minimum support price and disinvestment of profitable PSUs.

AAP Boycotts All-Party Meeting

Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Sunday boycotted the all-party meeting. He alleged that the Union government never allows anyone to speak during the meeting. 

“They (Government) don’t let any member speak during the all-party meeting. I raised the issue of bringing a law on the MSP guarantee in this session of the Parliament and other issues including the extension of Border Security Force’s jurisdiction, among others. They don’t let us speak in all-party meet and Parliament,” Sanjay Singh said, as quoted by ANI. 

“The government is busy with Jinnah and other issues, ignoring the core issues related to farmers and common man,” he alleged. 

TMC Raises 10 Issues

The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) raised ten issues at the all-party meeting convened ahead of the Winter Session. ANI cited sources as informing that the TMC leader demanded from centre to “bring women’s reservation bill in this Winter Session of Parliament and not bulldoze bills without screening by the opposition.” “Issues like Unemployment, Price Rise of Essentials/Fuel Prices, the law on MSP, weakening of the federal structure and stop disinvestment of profitable PSUs were raised by TMC in the meet,” said the source.

“TMC Leader also raised the issue of BSF jurisdiction that is increased in West Bengal, Pegasus Issue, disrupted Monsoon session and Covid-19 situation in Country,” the source added. 

TMC’s floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek O’Brien respectively were present at the meeting.

(With Inputs From Agencies)