The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which opens tomorrow, is likely to be stormy one, given that the Opposition has decided to move a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government.
The NDA’s former ally TDP approached Speaker Sumitra Mahajan’s office on Tuesday with a notice demanding a no-confidence motion against the Modi government.
The Congress and other opposition parties had decided at a meeting on Monday that the motion will help them to discuss a number of “public issues”. The Opposition is not in favour of limiting the no-confidence motion to special status for Andhra Pradesh.
Modi, meanwhile, assured an all-party meeting convened by Parliament Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar today that the government gives a lot of importance to the issues raised by all political parties. He urged the parties to collectively strive to create a constructive atmosphere in Parliament.
The Parliamentary Affairs Ministry said in a statement that there was consensus across party lines on ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament without disruptions. “The people of India want the Parliament to function. The government calls for cooperation from all parties in the country’s interest,” Anath Kumar said.
Blame game
The Congress’s Parliamentary Party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge later told reporters that the Opposition wants seven issues to be discussed during the session. However, whenever the Opposition raises important issues, the government starts finding new methods to avoid discussions, they said.
“Then they will blame the Opposition for disruptions,” Kharge said.
Seven key issues
The Congress leaders said issues such as mob lynching, unemployment and job losses, increasing attacks against women, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, farmers’ woes and how the Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank collected huge deposits soon after demonetisation will have to be discussed in Parliament.
“These are all issues of public interest, not personal or party matters,” Azad said.
Azad further said the Budget Session was disrupted by two political parties belonging to the ruling side and the Centre later blamed the Opposition.
“We want the House to function. We should not be blamed for disruption of proceedings,” he said.
The Congress has claimed that more than a dozen political parties are supporting it in the no-confidence motion. The TDP and the YSRCP had sought the Opposition’s support for the motion earlier.
“The motion will have to be considered by the Lok Sabha. Why is the government running away from debate?” Azad asked.