The Congress is gearing up to raise issues like the border standoff with China in Ladakh, Facebook’s alleged nexus with the ruling BJP, the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, increased economic crisis, job losses, and agrarian distress during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament that is likely to start from September 10.
The Congress has also urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to allow MPs to participate in the session either physically or virtually as is being done by the courts. While Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written a letter to Birla, P Chidambaram has written to Naidu to allow MPs, unable to participate physically, attend the proceedings through an app or a link.
A senior Congress Member of Parliament said the party would demand a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the border row, especially after his remarks at the June 19 all-party meeting that there have been no intrusions by Chinese forces into Indian territory in Ladakh.
The party has attacked Modi for refraining from naming China in his Independence Day speech, saying the Government should tell the people how it proposes to push back the Chinese forces occupying Indian territory.
AICC sources said while they are also coordinating with other Opposition parties, the Congress will demand a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Wall Street Journal report last week that claimed Facebook’s Indian staff ignored its rules in handling hate speech by BJP politicians. The Congress has alleged an “unholy nexus” between Facebook and the BJP.
The party also desires for a discussion on the PM Cares Fund in the wake of the Prime Minister’s Office denying information under RTI.
“We will also take on the Government over its mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic. When Rahul Gandhi flagged the issue as early as February, he was ridiculed by the BJP. See, where we stand now. We have become the third country in the world to cross over two million Covid-19 cases. We also saw an ill-conceived lockdown that resulted in a huge economic crisis and massive job losses. The Government has to tell us why and how it failed in containing the pandemic,” said the MP requesting anonymity.
The issue of the sale of 32 PSUs and handing over railways and airports to private parties will also be raised during the first-ever virtual session of Parliament.
“We are in talks with other like-minded Opposition parties to present a united front in Parliament on all critical issues confronting the country. We will meet soon to firm up our Parliament strategy,” said the MP.
The Monsoon Session, which usually starts in mid-July, has been deferred due to the pandemic, which led to a sweeping federal lockdown from March 25.
Welcoming the decision to hold the Monsoon Session of the two Houses of Parliament, Chidambaram said it is very important that the Houses should meet, even during the pandemic, to deliberate on many issues that concern the nation and the people.
In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said under the current circumstances, Parliament should develop an App and link should be provided to members like in the Supreme Court and High Courts in practice now.
“Members who are physically present may speak in the House. Members who cannot be physically present should be allowed to speak via an app. When the member’s name is called, his mike will be unmuted, and he can speak for the allotted time,” Chowdhury said.
Noting that proceedings of the House are open, recorded, reported in the media, and telecast, Chidambaram said in such circumstances it should be quite easy to employ technology to enable members to participate either physically or virtually in the proceedings of the House.
Special arrangements are being made to ensure that the members are safe and to maintain social distancing inside the House, he noted.
“However, you will kindly appreciate that when nearly 245 members of the Rajya Sabha gather in one place, with nearly 300 officers, staff and security personnel in attendance, (and a larger number in the adjacent Lok Sabha), it is nearly impossible to avoid the spread of the virus,” Chidambaram said in the letter to the Vice President.
All evidence points to the conclusion that when people gather in significant numbers in one place, they are vulnerable and are exposed to infection, he said.
“I am afraid this apprehension will discourage many Members from participating physically in the proposed Session of the House,” Chidambaram said further.
Hectic preparations are underway for the Monsoon Session of Parliament with several first-time measures in view of the Covid-19 pandemic such as staggered sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and use of both chambers and galleries to accommodate members while following physical distancing norms, officials said.
The Monsoon Session is likely to begin in the last week of August or early September.
According to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, members of the Upper House will be seated in both chambers and galleries during the session.