The monsoon session of Parliament is set to begin on July 21st. Prior to this, the central government has convened an all-party meeting on July 20th, where potential issues and bills for the session will be discussed. Heated debates and opposition protests are anticipated during the session on matters such as the SIR process in Bihar, Operation Sindoor, and language disputes.
All-Party Meeting to Determine the Session's Framework
The central government has decided to call an all-party meeting at 11 AM on July 20th, ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament starting on July 21st. Floor leaders from all major parties in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been invited to this meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is to build political consensus on proposed bills, national issues, and debates during the session. The government may appeal to the opposition for cooperation to ensure the smooth functioning of parliamentary proceedings.
Questions Arising on Bihar's SIR Process
During the monsoon session, the opposition may seek answers from the government regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process initiated by the Election Commission in Bihar.
The Congress and other opposition parties allege that the process demands documents from voters that not everyone possesses. They express concerns about the potential removal of a large number of people's names from the voter list.
The opposition demands that along with Aadhaar cards, MNREGA job cards and other government-issued identity cards should also be included as valid documents.
Debate on Operation Sindoor Expected in Parliament
Another potentially contentious issue is 'Operation Sindoor.' This military action took place at the time when former US President Donald Trump claimed to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
The opposition alleges that the government made this decision under foreign pressure, while the government maintains that the ceasefire proposal came from Pakistan and that no external forces were involved.
A debate on this issue is likely in Parliament as the opposition is questioning the transparency of the decisions related to it and India's strategic policy.
Language Dispute Also to Remain Central
Due to recent language-related disputes in several states, including Maharashtra, this issue may also resonate during the monsoon session. The opposition parties allege that the central government is attempting to impose a single language on the country.
The government had to withdraw its decision regarding language policy in Maharashtra after facing protests. There is a possibility of a debate in Parliament on this subject regarding the protection of regional languages and their constitutional status.
Digital Attendance System for MPs
A digital system for recording the attendance of Members of Parliament is being introduced in the Lok Sabha from this monsoon session. Now, MPs will be able to mark their attendance from their seats. Previously, this was done through signatures in a register.
According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, this step is considered important in the direction of making the functioning of Parliament more transparent and effective.
