In preparation for the upcoming Special Session of Parliament, scheduled for September 18-22, Congress has outlined nine critical issues that will be the focus of their efforts to engage the Centre. Jairam Ramesh, the party’s General Secretary in charge of communications, shared this strategic approach during a press briefing.
Jairam Ramesh disclosed that discussions regarding the strategy for the Special Session were held during a Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting chaired by Sonia Gandhi. Following this, a meeting was convened at the residence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, gathering the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc to further deliberate on the strategy for the upcoming session.
He elaborated, “We have decided that we will not boycott the special session as it is an opportunity for us to raise public issues concerning the public.”
Jairam Ramesh underscored that this Special Session is unique as it has been called without sharing the agenda with the opposition, presenting a challenge for the participating parties.
In the context of this development, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi addressed a letter to Prime Minister Modi, requesting time to discuss and debate the nine issues. In her letter, she expressed her concerns about the lack of consultation with other political parties and the absence of clarity regarding the session’s agenda.
Sonia Gandhi’s letter highlighted the importance of the Special Session as an opportunity to address matters of public concern and significance. She emphasized the need for time allocation under the appropriate Rules to facilitate meaningful discussions on these issues.
The nine key points outlined in the letter encompass a wide range of topics, including the current economic situation with a focus on rising prices of essential commodities, unemployment, growing inequalities, and the distress faced by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Additionally, the Congress leader called for discussions on the government’s commitments to farmers and their organizations regarding Minimum Support Prices (MSP), the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the transactions of the Adani business group, the challenges faced by the people of Manipur, communal tensions in various states, the continued occupation of Indian Territory by China, and issues related to Centre-State relations.
Sonia Gandhi also highlighted the impact of natural disasters, such as extreme floods and droughts, on various states and the urgent need for a Caste Census.
As the Special Session of Parliament draws near, Congress aims to shed light on these critical issues and engage in meaningful discussions to address the concerns of the Indian public.
