Monsoon Session Live: 'Govt Works For Own Benefit, Not For People,' Rajya Sabha LoP Kharge Ahead Of Budget
Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE: Follow this live blog for latest updates on proceedings of the Monsoon Session which will witness the presentation of NDA's full Budget after securing a third term.
Background
Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE: Hello and welcome to the live blog on the Parliament's monsoon session. The Monsoon Session of Parliament is set to commence on Monday with the tabling of the Economic Survey. The session, which will run until August 12, includes 19 sittings. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget on Tuesday.
The session is expected to witness the united opposition try to corner the NDA government on several fronts, including the NEET paper leak case and railway safety. Additionally, the ruling dispensation faces demands from its allies for special category status for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
On Sunday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju chaired a meeting with floor leaders of political parties to discuss their agendas. He expressed the government's willingness to discuss all issues within the rules and called for cooperation to ensure the smooth running of Parliament, highlighting it as a collective responsibility. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also emphasised the need to maintain the sanctity of Parliament and urged against disruptions.
The opposition, laying out their agenda at an all-party meeting, demanded discussions on contentious issues, including the Uttar Pradesh government's order to eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route, exam paper leaks, and the recent spate of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
Representatives from JD(U), BJD, and YSR Congress Party, along with BJP ally LJP (Ram Vilas), demanded special category status for Bihar, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. Congress leader K Suresh, speaking to reporters, stated that the Congress, along with other INDIA bloc members, sought the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker's position for the opposition, as per convention. They also raised issues like the situation in Manipur, train accidents, unemployment, and price rise.
The Congress also expressed concerns over alleged irregularities in exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, following the recent resignation of its chairperson for reportedly personal reasons. DMK's Tiruchi Siva criticised the government's handling of the NEET medical entrance examination, calling for a discussion on the issue.
Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav accused the ruling BJP of pursuing communally divisive politics through the Uttar Pradesh government's order asking eateries to display their owners' names on the Kanwar Yatra route. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and AAP's Sanjay Singh echoed these criticisms.
Sanjay Singh further raised the issue of the misuse of central probe agencies, accusing the Modi government of targeting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in the excise policy case. Singh claimed the Centre has allocated only Rs 350 crore to Delhi for the past nine years and predicted the same allocation in the upcoming budget.
During the session, the government plans to present six bills, including one to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act. Other bills include the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, the Boilers Bill, the Coffee (Promotion and Development) Bill, and the Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill.
Monsoon Session Live: 'Govt works for own benefit, not for people,' Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said ahead of the presentation of Union Budget 2024, "It would not be right to expect anything from the current government before the Budget is announced. They act against what we say... This government operates on its own terms and works for its own benefit, not for the people."
Monsoon Session Live: INDIA bloc meeting at Kharge's residence tomorrow to discuss Parliament session
INDIA bloc to convene a meeting tomorrow evening, 23rd July, regarding Parliament session. The meeting will be held at the residence of Congress national president and Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge and will be attended by senior MPs of INDIA Alliance, ANI reported.
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