The Congress-led Opposition parties have identified a number of issues for debate in the upcoming Parliament session — the first full session since the 2019 Winter Session in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic — including the economy and spiralling fuel prices.
The latest developments on the Rafale deal, the government’s pandemic management, including the vaccination strategy, and the role of governors, with an oblique reference to West Bengal, are among the topics on the Opposition’s agenda, according to senior leaders from the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, two key Opposition parties.
The monsoon session, which runs from July 19 to August 13, will last 19 working days, following the cancellation of the previous three sessions and the cancellation of last year’s Winter session. Despite a drop in Covid cases, a vaccination drive that has covered most MPs and Parliament support staff has raised hopes for a return to normal.
Two Short Duration debates and as many Calling Attention debates are expected, according to the opposition. “Our priority would be the economic situation, job losses, price increases, and the government’s Covid management” . With the new developments in the Rafale deal, another party leader predicted that the Congress would be aggressive during the session to demand a Joint Pardon.
On July 5, the French online journal Mediapart reported that a judge had been appointed to lead an investigation into allegations of “corruption and favouritism” in the 59,000 crore Rafale deal with India for 36 fighter jets.
In the context of the friction and uneasiness between Mamata Banerjee’s government and the governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, a debate on the role of the governor is a top priority for the Trinamool, according to a senior party leader.
The Union government, too, has stated that it will soon complete its legislative agenda, which currently includes 40 pending bills and four ordinances.
The top priority will be to replace the ordinances, but government officials have told some opposition leaders that The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) may be referred to a parliamentary panel for further review. Another ordinance, the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Commission for Air Quality Management Ordinance, has already expired.
