Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi listing issues for discussion during Special Session

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 6

Caste census, occupation of Indian territory by China and joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe transactions by the Adani Group are among the issues that featured in a letter written by Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking up for discussion during the upcoming Special Parliamentary Session.

The Special Parliamentary Session has been convened without consultation with other political parties.

Therefore, CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji writes to PM Modi, addressing the issues that the party wishes to discuss in the upcoming session. pic.twitter.com/RBIcxVWtki

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 6, 2023

In the letter, Sonia Gandhi noted that the session is being held without any consultation with other political parties who do not have any idea on the agenda for the special session. She, however, added that the Opposition would “most certainly” like to participate in the special session as it would give them an opportunity to raise matters of public interest.

Gandhi urged Modi for allocation of time during the special session for discussion on the rise in the prices of essential commodities, unemployment, growing inequality and problems faced by MSME sector.

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi had last week announced that a Special Parliamentary Session would be held between September 18 and 22. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha later issued notifications in this regard and stated that there would no Question Hour and Zero Hour during the Special Session.

While the agenda for the session has been kept under wraps, speculation is rife that bills would be brought by the ruling BJP proposing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ policy and to change the name of the country from India to Bharat.

In her letter, Sonia Gandhi also urged Modi to allow discussion on Manipur ethnic violence and communal clashes in the country including the recent violence in Haryana.

The Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) leader also demanded a discussion over the rift between states and the Centre. She wrote that the issue of the impact of natural disasters caused by extreme floods in some states and drought in others should be discussed during the special session.

The former Congress president wrote that the issues listed by her in the letter should be allowed to be taken up in the special session in a spirit of constructive cooperation.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress party general secretary, told mediapersons here that during a meeting of the floor leaders of Opposition INDIA bloc held last night at the residence of Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, it was decided that Sonia Gandhi would write to the PM highlighting the issues that the Opposition parties felt ought to be discussed in the House.

Ramesh said government was free to take a call with regard to the rules under which a particular issue could be taken up for discussion.