Session from July 20; Bill to replace Govt of NCT of Delhi ordinance also likely
The upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, scheduled to commence on July 20, is expected to be stormy as it may witness the introduction of contentious legislative proposals, including the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill and another Bill aimed at replacing the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance.
The situation in Manipur will also come into sharp focus.
“Monsoon Session 2023 of Parliament will commence from July 20 and continue till August 11. I urge all parties to contribute towards productive discussions on Legislative Business and other items during the Monsoon Session,” said Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Twitter.
“There will be a total of 17 sittings in this session lasting 23 days. I appeal to all parties to contribute constructively to the legislative and other business of Parliament during the session,” said Joshi.
Parliament is convening at a time when Prime Minister Modi has made a strong pitch for a UCC, and the Government is rapidly stepping up consultations on the issue.
A large section of the Opposition, including the Congress and the Left, has opposed it and described the UCC move by the BJP Government as a ‘diversionary tactic’ close to the 2024 Lok Sabha Poll and called for “wider consultations” on the issue.
The BJP-led Uttarakhand has already completed its report on the UCC and is set to implement it in the State.
Meanwhile, the Congress discussed its parliamentary strategy in a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group at the residence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
The party decided to confront the Modi Government on several matters, including the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the situation in Manipur, and the demand for the dismissal of the Railways Minister following the Balasore Train tragedy.
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh briefed the Press on the meeting, stating, “We held this meeting 20 days prior to the Monsoon Session because there are crucial public issues confronting the nation. We discussed our strategy for addressing these issues in Parliament.”
Regarding the issues discussed, Jairam Ramesh highlighted the violence in Manipur as the first concern. He stated, “The Congress will continue to demand the resignation of the Manipur Chief Minister.”
Expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of positive outcomes from the Home Minister’s visit to Manipur and the Prime Minister’s silence on the matter for the past 60 days, he urged Modi to break his silence and address the issue. The Congress intends to seek a debate on the Manipur unrest during the upcoming Parliament session.
The meeting also addressed the issue of Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Parliament. Ramesh provided this update, along with discussing the Odisha train accident that claimed 292 lives.
He called for the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, emphasising that the Government was not adequately prioritising railway safety.
The Congress leader urged Modi to accord the same importance to railway safety as he does to the inauguration of Vande Bharat trains.
The Congress also plans to push for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into the Adani issue and also raise concerns about the treatment of protesting women wrestlers by the Delhi Police.
Jairam reiterated the party’s position on the Uniform Civil Code, stating, “We stand by our statement issued on June 15. Nothing significant has occurred since then.”
During the session, several significant legislative proposals will be on the agenda. Among them are the eagerly awaited Digital Personal Data Protection Bill and the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill.
Additionally, a crucial Bill aimed at replacing the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance will be up for discussion.
Of particular importance is the voting on the NCT Bill, which will serve as a litmus test for the recently formed Opposition unity.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has actively engaged with various political parties, seeking their support against the Bill. The stance taken by non-Congress, non-BJP parties on this issue will provide valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of the political landscape.
While the ruling BJP holds a commanding majority in the Lok Sabha with its 303 Members of Parliament (MPs), ensuring smooth passage of the NCT Bill in the Lower House, the situation may be more challenging in the Rajya Sabha.
The Upper House currently has 238 MPs, and if non-BJP parties join forces, the BJP and its allies’ combined strength of 111 MPs, including nominated members, could face significant opposition from the 106-member strong Opposition, excluding the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)].
These five parties were absent from the recent Patna meeting and have expressed their preference for maintaining an “equidistant” stance from both the BJP and the Opposition front. However, the BJD, YSRCP, and BSP have yet to clearly state their position on the NCT Bill, possibly due to concerns about the implications of the ordinance on State Governments.
The BJD and YSRCP hold nine seats each in the Rajya Sabha, making their support pivotal.
The AAP has been actively rallying the Opposition to collectively vote against the Bill, as it undermines the principle of federalism by sidelining an elected Government and granting excessive control to the Lieutenant Governor over civil servants.
Arvind Kejriwal has engaged in discussions with Opposition leaders, seeking their unequivocal commitment to voting against the Bill. However, Congress has not made any definitive commitment thus far, leaving the outcome uncertain. The voting on the NCT Bill is set to be a significant moment that will shape the political landscape in the lead-up to future elections.
