Cong braces for upcoming Parliament's Special Session: To raise 9 key issues

New Delhi: Congress has decided to corner the Centre with 9 issues ranging from the 'Adani' matter to 'damages being inflicted on Centre-State relations' during the upcoming Special Session of Parliament, scheduled for later this month, the party's general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said on Wednesday. 

Addressing a press briefing here, Jairam Ramesh said that a total of nine issues concerning the general public will be raised, during the five-sitting long Special Session of Parliament, to be held between September 18-22.

"Yesterday Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting under the chairmanship of Sonia Gandhi was held to chalk out the party's strategy for the upcoming five-sitting long Special Session of Parliament. Later, at 8 pm, party president Mallikarjun Kharge called a meeting at his residence of all floor leaders of the INDIA bloc," Jairam Ramesh said.

He said that during that meeting, discussions were held on the strategy of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) for the upcoming Special Session.

"We have decided that we will not boycott the special session as it is an opportunity for us to raise public issues concerning the public," he said. 

The Congress Rajya Sabha MP said that this is the first time that a Special Session is convened and the agenda is not shared with the opposition.

Meanwhile, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking time under the appropriate Rules for a discussion and debate on the 9 issues.

In a letter to PM Modi Sonia Gandhi wrote, "I must point out that this Special Session has been convened without any consultation with other political parties. None of us have any idea of its agenda. All we have been communicated is that all five days have been allocated for Government Business."

"We most certainly want to participate in the Special Session because it will give us an opportunity to raise matters of public concern and importance. I earnestly hope that time will be allocated under the appropriate Rules for a discussion and debate on these issues," she said in the letter.

The points mentioned in the letter include the current economic situation with a focus on increasing price rise of essential commodities, growing unemployment, rise in inequalities and distress of MSMEs; the commitment made by the Government of India to farmers and farmer organizations in regard to MSP and other demands raised by them; demand for a JPC to investigate the transactions of the Adani business group in light of all revelations; the continued agony faced by people of Manipur and breakdown of Constitutional machinery and social harmony in the State; rise in communal tension in different States like Haryana; continued occupation of Indian Territory by China and challenges to our sovereignty on our borders in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh; urgent need for a Caste Census; damages being inflicted on Centre-State relations; impact of natural disasters caused by extreme floods in some States and drought in others. (ANI)