The government on Wednesday hit back at Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused her of politicising the functioning of parliament and creating unnecessary controversy. Gandhi had written a nine-point letter to Modi demanding clarity on the agenda of the upcoming special session of the Parliament to be held from September 18 to 22.
“It is very unfortunate that you are trying to politicise the functioning of Parliament, our temple of democracy, and create unnecessary controversy,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said.
Political parties are never consulted before calling a Parliament session, Joshi said in his letter to the Congress leader. “Perhaps, you do not pay attention to traditions. Before calling a Parliament session, neither discussions are held with political parties nor issues are ever discussed,” he said.
The minister said a meeting of all party leaders is held before the commencement of the session and in this meeting issues and functioning of parliament are discussed. In her letter to Modi, Gandhi had proposed that nine issues, including violence in Manipur and price rise, be listed for discussion during the session.
Current economic situation on the nation in the wake of rising prices and growing unemployment, commitment made to the farmers with regard to MSP, demand for a joint parliamentary committee to investigate transactions of the Adani group, need for a caste census are among the other issues she proposed to be listed for discussion.
“By the way, all the issues which you have mentioned were raised during the discussion on the no-confidence motion during the Monsoon session recently and the government had also responded to them,” Joshi said in his reply.
Earlier, while addressing media after the details of Gandhi’s letter were revealed, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said this is the first time that no agenda has been discussed or listed in the business of the House. He said the rules under which the discussion can take place can be discussed mutually.
Gandhi wrote the letter to the prime minister a day after the floor leaders of the opposition INDIA alliance met at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence to discuss the strategy to be adopted for the special session of parliament.
