Parliament Special Session Begins Today With Discussion On Rich Legacy, Oppn To Resist Poll Panel Bill: 10 Points

Parliament's five-day 'Amrit Kaal' session will begin on Monday with a few bills and a discussion on Parliament's 75-year journey on the agenda.

The five-day 'Amrit Kaal' session of parliament will begin today at the old building, a day after an all-party meeting was held in the national capital. The session will run from Sept 18-22, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had said. The minister earlier described it as "special session". But the government later made it clear that it was a regular session, 13th session of the present Lok Sabha and 261st session of Rajya Sabha, reported PTI. The Centre had announced the convening of the session last month, however, it did not release any agenda at first. A war of words had erupted between the ruling dispensation and Congress over the business of the House. The government later released the agenda mentioning four bills, two will be taken up in the Lok Sabha and two in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage.

Parliament 'Amrit Kaal' Session: 10 Points

• The session will begin on Monday at the new Parliament building and will witness a discussion on Parliament's 75-year journey and House proceedings moving to the new building.

 

• On Tuesday, on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, an assembly of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs will take place in the Central Hall to "commemorate the rich legacy of the Parliament of India and resolve to make Bharat a developed Nation by 2047". There will be a photo session after this in the inner courtyard of the old building.

 

• According to a Lok Sabha bulletin, the function will commemorate the rich legacy of the Parliament of India and resolve to make Bharat a developed nation by 2047, reported PTI.  The legislative business will begin on September 20 in the new building, the report mentioned.

 

• Ahead of the session, ten women parliamentarians shared their memories, messages and experiences of the old Parliament building in handwritten notes, reported PTI. The MPs are set to bid farewell to the premises as they will move to the new complex.

 

• Meanwhile, an all-party meeting in Delhi on Sunday pushed the Centre to introduce the Women Reservation Bill in parliament, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, as reported by PTI. On the parties' demand for the Women Reservation Bill, Union minister Pralhad Joshi said the decision will be taken at "appropriate time".

 

• The government has also announced a new dress code for the Parliament staff. PTI reported that various departments are all set to don these new uniforms. The new dress code with floral motif already created a stir with Congress questioning why the lotus flower was there in the design. Notably, Lotus is the poll symbol of the BJP.

 

• The bulletin released by the Centre stating the agenda called it 'tentative,' indicating that other issues may also be brought up for discussion during the five-day special session. The agenda said that the session will begin with a special discussion on Parliament's journey of 75 years starting from the "Samvidhan Sabha" (Constituent Assembly).

 

• Bills listed under the session's 'Legislative Business' in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, include The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, The Post Office Bill, 2023, and The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. Opposition parties have said that they will oppose the election commissioners appointment bill that seeks to replace CJI with a Union Minister in the appointment panel.

 

• Congress lashed out at the Centre on Thursday and said that the BJP-led government released the 'tentative' agenda for the five-day special Parliament session under pressure of the letter written by Sonia Gandhi. The party also said that it will oppose the Bill on the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner. Last week, Congress parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi wrote to PM Narendra Modi, saying that the agenda of the special Parliament session ought to be disclosed to all parties.

 

• Gandhi stated that there was no information on the agenda of the session and listed nine issues for discussion: demand for JPC, caste census, rise in communal tensions in different states, inflation, growing unemployment, rise in inequalities and distress of MSMEs. She also raised the point of commitment made by the Centre with regard to Minimum Support Price. Other issues included Manipur violence, border tussle with China, natural disasters across country and 'damaging' Centre-State relations.