Govt Unveils Agenda For Special Session Of Parliament; Opposition Suspects Undisclosed 'Legislative Grenades'

Shortly after announcing an all-party meeting for the upcoming special session of Parliament on 18 September, the government provided some insight into the topics to be discussed.

According to a bulletin released by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the two Houses will focus on the "Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha — Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings."

Additionally, four Bills will be considered during the special session, Indian Express reported.

The Bills to be discussed include the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, which was introduced during the Monsoon Session in the Lok Sabha.

The Advocates (Amendment) Bill and the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, both passed by the Rajya Sabha in the Monsoon Session, will also be addressed.

Furthermore, the Post Office Bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session, will be discussed.

The Rajya Sabha agenda also includes the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023, which was previously passed by the Lok Sabha in July.

Since the surprise announcement of a special session by the government, speculation has been rampant regarding its pre-poll agenda.

The Opposition has been questioning the government's silence on the issue.

While the government's agenda outlined on Wednesday seems ordinary and includes legislation already being discussed in Parliament, there may still be surprises and more substantial matters to be addressed during the five-day session, IE reported citing sources.

Opposition leaders have expressed their apprehension that the government may have undisclosed plans, as the circulated agenda does not appear worthy of a special session.

Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the Modi government was "compelled" to announce the agenda under "pressure", after receiving a letter from Sonia Gandhi.

"The agenda as published at the moment, is much ado about nothing – all this could have waited till Winter session in November. I am sure the legislative grenades are being kept up their sleeves to be unleashed at the last moment as usual," Ramesh said.

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien expressed skepticism about the government's agenda, noting that it should not be seen as exhaustive. He also questioned whether the government had some "dirty tricks" up its sleeve.

According to some BJP leaders, the government's decision to hold a special session is driven by the potential delay of the Winter Session of Parliament, which typically takes place in November-December.

The upcoming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram could impact the timing of the Winter Session.

These leaders suggest that the government wants to highlight its recent achievements, such as hosting the G20 Summit and the Chandrayaan 3 mission, before the elections.

There is speculation that certain contentious issues, which could create divisions within the Opposition, might still be on the table.

One of the most talked-about possibilities is the introduction of a women's reservation Bill that would provide a quota for women in Parliament and Assemblies.

Additionally, there is mention of a proposal to reinstate statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The government would likely face little criticism from the Opposition on either of these issues.

The government's decision to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir not only helps them avoid pressure from the Supreme Court, which questioned the timeline for restoring statehood, but also addresses the concerns raised by various pleas challenging the abrogation.

While there is widespread support for women's reservation among most parties in the INDIA bloc, the Samajwadi Party and RJD may pose some obstacles.

These two parties, known for their strong caste bases, are advocating for caste- and community-based quotas within the reservation block for women.

This proposal may face opposition from parties like the Congress.

The introduction of the women's Bill aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus on empowering women, as seen in his government's initiatives such as Ujjwala Yojana, toilet-building mission, and Jal Jeevan programme.

The BJP recognises the increasing influence of women voters and considers their participation in elections as a potential game changer.