The Centre on Wednesday released the agenda for the special five-day session of Parliament starting next week, which includes four bills. However, Congress believes there could be a "legislative grenade" up its sleeves that the government is keeping hidden.
The agenda listed for legislative business during the special five-day session of Parliament starting next week includes a discussion on Parliament's journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha, Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, the Post Office Bill, the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, and the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill.
However, the Congress on Wednesday took a swipe at the Centre, stating that the agenda as published at the moment was "much ado about nothing".
In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Finally, after pressure from Smt. Sonia Gandhi's letter to the Prime Minister, the Modi Govt has condescended to announce the agenda for the special 5-day session of Parliament beginning September 18th."
"The agenda as published at the moment, is much ado about nothing all this could have waited till the 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. Parde ke peeche kuch aur hai!" he said.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal expressed doubts about the Centre's intentions, stating that the agenda announced thus far does not speak of a single issue of public importance raised by Sonia Gandhi in her letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Instead, they have chosen headline management. 140 crore Indians are sorely disappointed looking at this agenda," Venugopal said on X.
Congress' deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi also hit out at the government for not including topics on Manipur, unemployment, Himachal rains and inflation.
The party also made it clear that it would oppose the bill on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners. The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha during the last Monsoon session. "The INDIA alliance parties will steadfastly oppose the "insidious" CEC Bill," Jairam Ramesh added.
The bill, if passed, will negate the Supreme Court's judgment that the appointment of Election Commissioners will be done by the President on the advice of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and the Chief Justice of India.
The decision to hold a special session has triggered speculations that the government may introduce 'One Nation, One Election', the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and women's reservation bills. Rumours were also rife that the name of the country could be changed from India to Bharat after the government went ahead with the repeated use of "Bharat" during the G20 events.
