Government calls special session of House, Opposition questions intent

Aug 31, 2023

New Delhi [India], August 31 : After the Modi government called for a "special session of Parliament" to be held from September 18 to 22, the opposition has questioned the timing of the five-day special session of parliament called by the government, and said that it is an indicator of a 'little panic'.
The information was given by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. "Special Session of Parliament (13th Session of 17th Lok Sabha and 261st Session of Rajya Sabha) is being called from 18th to 22nd September having 5 sittings. Amid Amrit Kaal looking forward to having fruitful discussions and debate in Parliament,” Joshi said on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter).
Soon after the announcement was made, speculations on the agenda for the five-day session began to circulate. One of the agenda items speculated upon was dissolving the current Parliament and announcing early Lok Sabha elections. This decision, however, can be brought about by a cabinet decision and therefore convening a special sitting of Parliament if early Lok Sabha elections was indeed the agenda, was not a requirement.
However, all this is only a matter of speculation sources said, confirming that no one is quite sure what the agenda is for the parliament session next month.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that maybe it is an indicator of a 'little panic'. 
"I think maybe it is an indicator of a little panic. The same type of panic that happened when I spoke in Parliament House, the panic that suddenly made them revoke my Parliament membership," a Congress leader said in Mumbai.
"So, I think it is panic because these matters are very close to the Prime Minister. Whenever you touch the Adani matter, the PM gets very uncomfortable and very nervous," he added.
Moreover, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said "We have not been told anything officially on this. Usually, a bulletin is published or information is given on the phone.
"Don't know what important situation has arisen that Parliament is being convened suddenly. Elections are nearing, and in the states going to elections the BJP's state is bad. This special session is being called by them to find a way to save themselves from this situation and how to mislead people again. If we get a chance, we will prove that this is not 'Amrit Kaal' but 'Garal Kaal'. If the government has the courage then it should discuss the various issues including China and Manipur; they should accept our demand for constituting JPC," Ranjan said. 
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said she is "surprised" with the government's choice of dates for the special session of parliament as it coincides with Ganesh Chaturthi.
"The manner in which Pralhad Joshi has secretly taken this decision and tweeted - my question is that a very important festival of the country, Ganesh Chaturthi (will be celebrated at that time)...So, we want to know why is this anti-Hindu act being done? On what basis has the decision been taken?...Is this their 'Hindutvavadi' mindset?" she said
Furthermore, the CPI Secretary, National Council Binoy Viswam said that BJP is not serious about the parliament. 
"They want to cut short the number of days. If the BJP allowed the parliament to function properly, we would have raised the people's and the country's issues before the parliament," he said. 
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "Central Government doesn't consult anyone, it doesn't talk to any political party...Central Government is strangulating democracy like this."
The monsoon session of parliament, which concluded last month, was held in the old Parliament building.
The announcement of the Special Session came as a surprise in political circles with the parties gearing up for assembly polls in five states later this year.
The winter session of Parliament usually begins in the last week of November.