Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning July 21, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju chaired an all-party meeting that concluded on a ‘very positive’ note.
The meeting witnessed participation from 54 lawmakers representing 51 political groups, with 40 leaders articulating their parties’ agendas and issues for the upcoming session.
Speaking to the media following the meeting, Rijiju emphasised the shared responsibility of the government and the Opposition in ensuring the smooth operation of both Houses.
“It was conveyed that it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure Parliament runs smoothly. The ruling party and the Opposition must work together and maintain coordination,” he said.
Rijiju added that despite differing political ideologies, the ultimate aim should be the proper functioning of Parliament. He reassured that the government noted all points raised and remains open to discussions on all major issues within the framework of parliamentary norms.
Leaders of smaller parties raised concerns about limited speaking time in the House due to the numerical strength-based system.
Rijiju acknowledged the issue and assured them that he would present the matter to the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
“We have agreed to work on ensuring adequate speaking time for parties with fewer MPs,” he stated.
Addressing Opposition criticism over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in Parliament, Rijiju clarified that PM Modi is among the Members with the highest attendance records.
“He attends the proceedings unless he is abroad or attending an important event in a state. Whenever questions related to his ministries are taken up during Question Hour, he is present,” he said.
The Minister criticised demands for PM Modi’s constant presence in the House, calling them ‘unfair’ and against parliamentary convention. He explained that as per established rules, the Cabinet functions on collective responsibility, and concerned ministers are always present during Question Hour.
Rijiju reiterated that the government has made full preparations to discuss national issues and pending legislation during the Monsoon Session, which will run from July 21 to August 21 and include 21 sittings.
The Parliament has not scheduled any sittings between August 12 and August 18.
He revealed that the legislative agenda includes important bills such as:
The Minister also informed that he has been regularly meeting with Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, to ensure mutual understanding and coordination.
“As a parliamentary affairs minister, it is my responsibility to maintain coordination with all leaders,” Rijiju said.
The pre-session all-party meeting served as a platform to foster cooperation among political parties and ensure a productive and disruption-free session in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
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