Congress leader Jairam Ramesh (Image Internet)
New Delhi: Upbeat about what it described as success in the just-concluded Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Congress has scheduled a meeting of its highest decision-making body, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), on August 19 to discuss major outstanding agendas and issues.
The meeting comes after a stormy Monsoon Session of Parliament, where the ruling BJP-led government and Opposition remained locked in a prolonged confrontation over multiple issues. The Congress has claimed that the Opposition managed to stall several key legislative moves, while the government has maintained that disruptions affected parliamentary functioning.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said the meeting would prepare the party’s strategy on major legislative issues, including the proposed Delimitation Bill and the Women’s Reservation Bill.
As per Ramesh, the Monsoon Session exposed the bluff, bombast and bluster of Home Minister Amit Shah, who failed to muster the two-thirds majority needed to pass the Delimitation Bill. The Home Minister could not get the required numbers even after splitting parties. Political equations may shift in the coming weeks. Those who split may re-split. Three rebel TMC MPS were already having second thoughts, he claimed.
Ramesh further that said the Congress would remain vigilant and accused the government of attempting political manoeuvring to strengthen its position.
Ahead of the CWC meeting, the Congress outlined what it described as major achievements of the Monsoon Session. The party claimed that the One Nation, One Election Bill and the related Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report were not taken up during the session despite being listed for parliamentary business.
The Congress also pointed out that the Viksit Bharat Shikshan Adhiniyam was deferred to the Winter Session along with the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill. The proposed constitutional amendment bill includes provisions related to the removal of Chief Ministers and ministers who remain without bail for 30 consecutive days after arrest.
While highlighting issues where it claimed success, the Congress also raised concerns over certain bills that were passed during the session. Ramesh specifically mentioned the National Cooperative Development Corporation Amendment Bill and the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, arguing that such legislations required deeper parliamentary scrutiny and wider consultations.
