News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/21st July 2024
On Sunday, the Indian government held an all-party meeting in preparation for the upcoming Budget session of Parliament, chaired by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. This crucial gathering was organized by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and involved discussions with floor leaders from various political parties to outline the issues they plan to address during the session.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted about the meeting, highlighting that the JD(U) leaders demanded special category status for Bihar, while YSRCP leaders called for the same status for Andhra Pradesh. Notably, the TDP leader chose not to comment on the demand for special status for Andhra Pradesh, which sparked some intrigue among attendees.
In addition to the special status demands, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who has recently been appointed deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, brought up several concerns. Gogoi addressed issues related to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), alleged misuse of central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and reiterated the Congress party’s demand for the deputy Speaker position in the Lok Sabha.
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav drew attention to a recent directive from the Uttar Pradesh government regarding nameplates on food shops along the Kanwar Yatra route. This issue reflects the ongoing discussions about regional governance and administrative policies that impact local communities.
The Monsoon session of Parliament is scheduled to commence on Monday, July 22, and will run through August 12, with 19 sittings planned. During this session, the government is expected to present several key bills. Among these is a proposal to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act, which aims to update and modernize aviation regulations. Additionally, the Centre will seek approval for the Budget for Jammu and Kashmir, a region currently under Union rule.
Further legislative changes anticipated during the session include amendments to the Banking Regulation Act of 1949, as well as the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Acts of 1970 and 1980. These amendments could significantly impact the financial sector, potentially reducing the government’s shareholding in public sector banks (PSBs) to below 51 percent.
The all-party meeting also saw participation from several prominent political figures, including Congress members Jairam Ramesh and K S Suresh, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, RJD’s Abhay Kushwaha, JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, SP’s Ramgopal Yadav, and NCP’s Praful Patel. Their presence underscored the broad range of political perspectives being considered as Parliament prepares for its upcoming session.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is slated to present the Union Budget on Tuesday, following the Economic Survey, which will be tabled in Parliament on Monday. The meeting and the session’s agenda reflect a busy and potentially transformative period for Indian politics and governance, with significant legislative and policy decisions on the horizon.
