Government’s plan to pass many bills, opposition will surround the issue of corona, inflation and farmers

The government will go to the House with an agenda to pass several bills during the monsoon session of Parliament starting Monday. At the same time, the opposition is also preparing to surround the government on the issue of how to deal with the second wave of COVID, increase in fuel prices and farmers’ agitation. According to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an all-party meeting on Sunday that the government is in favor of fruitful discussions on various issues in Parliament. According to an official statement released later, the Prime Minister told leaders of various parties in the House that the country’s tradition of healthy democracy, issues related to the people should be raised amicably and the government should be given an option to respond to these discussions.

PM Modi said – cordial environment is everyone’s responsibility

Prime Minister Modi said that it is everyone’s responsibility to create such a congenial environment and the people’s representatives are aware of the ground level, hence their participation in such discussions and decision making process enriches them. As part of their strategy to corner the government, several opposition parties are planning to bring an adjournment motion in both the houses of Parliament on Monday over the issue of farmers. After the all-party meeting called by the government, the opposition parties held separate meetings in Parliament to discuss the strategy.

Opposition parties in preparation for adjournment notice

After the meeting of the opposition party, RSP leader N. K. Premachandran said that various opposition parties will bring adjournment motion in both the houses of Parliament on the issue of farmers. Leaders of Congress, Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M), Communist Party of India (CPI), IUML, RSP, Shiv Sena and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took part in the meeting of opposition parties. Farmers unions have been demonstrating since November last year on the borders of Delhi to protest against three agriculture laws of the Centre, and to demand a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops.

More than 40 leaders of 33 parties took part in the meeting

Leaders of 33 parties participated in the all-party meeting. Leaders of other parties including Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) said that if the pandemic and its related issues will be discussed in the House, then what will be the need to go out. Saund Parliament House is a separate building in the family. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said in the meeting that on July 20, Prime Minister Modi will address the members of both the Houses of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, on the issue of the pandemic.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien, who was present in the meeting, said, ‘What is the need to go out of Parliament? Any discussion should take place in the House. Sources in other opposition parties have confirmed that Joshi’s offer has been rejected and some have even talked of convening a joint sitting in the Central Hall of Parliament.

Government ready to introduce 17 new bills

The government has listed 17 new bills for introduction during this session. Three of these bills will be brought in place of the recently issued ordinances. One of these ordinances was issued on June 30, through which anyone involved in the defense services has been banned from participating in protests or strikes. The Essential Defense Services Ordinance 2021 has been brought in the backdrop of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)’s warning of going on an indefinite strike by the major unions in late July.

Concerned associations are opposing the government’s decision to corporatise OFB. According to the bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha on July 12, the Essential Defense Services Bill 2021 has been listed to replace the ordinance. At the same time, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and its adjoining areas-2021 is another bill which will be brought in place of the ordinance.

Opposition will surround the government on issues like Corona, inflation

At the same time, the opposition is preparing to corner the government on the issue of alleged shortage of health services and distribution of vaccines to the states during the second wave of the Kovid-19 epidemic. The opposition will also seek answers from the government regarding the increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. The monsoon session of Parliament will continue till August 13.

The financial topics listed in the Bulletin include discussions and voting on Supplementary Demands and Grants for the year 2021-22. Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday appealed to the Members of Parliament to stand with the people amid the pandemic and discuss issues related to the public in the House.