Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Central government is bracing for a contentious Parliament session as the Opposition signaled its intent to raise critical issues like the NEET-UG controversy and the Kanwar Yatra order at an all-party meeting held ahead of the Budget Session.
During the meeting, Congress emphasized the need for the deputy speaker’s post to be granted to the Opposition. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also highlighted the ongoing NEET-UG row and alleged misuse of central agencies like the ED and CBI.
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav raised concerns about the Uttar Pradesh government’s directive for shopkeepers to display their names along the Kanwar Yatra route, a move seen as controversial and potentially discriminatory.
The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, saw Congress MP Jairam Ramesh commenting on the lack of demand for special status for Andhra Pradesh by the TDP. However, he noted that the BJP ally JD(U) pushed for special status for Bihar.
“In today’s all-party meeting of floor leaders chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the JD(U) leader demanded special category status for Bihar. The YSRCP leader demanded special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Strangely, the TDP leader kept quiet on the matter,” Ramesh posted on X, during the ongoing meeting.
The JD(U), a crucial ally in the ruling NDA, had recently passed a resolution demanding special category status for Bihar.
Gaurav Gogoi urged that the Opposition be allowed to raise their issues in Parliament, following parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju’s call for cooperation from all parties for smooth functioning of the two Houses.
The YSR Congress highlighted the alleged targeting of its leaders by the TDP government in Andhra Pradesh.
Notable attendees included BJP president J P Nadda, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, Union minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, RJD’s Abhay Kushwaha, JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, SP leader Ramgopal Yadav, and NCP’s Praful Patel.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on Tuesday, following the tabling of the Economic Survey in Parliament on Monday.
