With the Monsoon Session of Parliament set to begin tomorrow, both the ruling alliance and opposition parties laid out their demands at the customary all-party meeting held today.
Chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the meeting saw the JD(U) and the YSRCP advocating for special category status for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Notably, the TDP remained silent on this issue, as mentioned by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh.
The YSR Congress voiced concerns about the TDP government’s alleged targeting of its leaders in Andhra Pradesh and called for the Centre’s intervention. They claimed that lawlessness prevailed in the state and suggested that President’s rule was the only solution.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) highlighted an incident involving an alleged assault on an officer by the Odisha governor’s son, implying that he was acting with impunity. BJD MP Sasmit Patra announced that his party would act as a strong opposition in the House, stressing that the BJD is neither aligned with the opposition INDIA Bloc nor the government.
During the meeting, the Congress requested the position of Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker for the opposition and raised the issue of paper leaks, including those of the prestigious NEET exam.
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi emphasized the need for the opposition to be allowed to raise issues in Parliament, following a call from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju for cooperation from all parties to ensure the smooth functioning of both Houses.
