Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad josh tells TOI’s Akhilesh Singh that the decision to suspend the winter session was made after consultations with high-level members of most political parties who were not in favor of being in Delhi for the session. Excerpts from the interview
The opposition says it was not consulted. Were consultations carried out and what was the response from the main parties?
Consultations were held with all major political parties before the decision was made to suspend the winter session and the parties that make it a problem are doing so with a political motive. The leaders were unanimous that the Covid situation in the national capital was grim and the session should be avoided. Leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress), Sudip Bandopadhyay (TMC), Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), TR Balu and Tiruchi Siva (DMK) and some others agreed that the session should be combined with the budget session in January. . Congress and TMC are raising the issue because of their internal situation, as some leaders want to impress their bosses. Let the floor leaders deny that there was no consultation. We also speak with YSRCP and other regional parties. I have two questions: when the monsoon session took place in September, most of these parties questioned it and sought an early conclusion. Second, many MPs from these parties do not come to Delhi to even attend committee meetings. Conversations are very sensitive and it is unethical to go into detail.
Even if the Covid situation was bad in November, now it is better. Couldn’t a short winter session be called as the opposition is making it a problem?
There has to be an interval between two sessions and there should be some time to start working. The next session is coming up and we have to prepare for that. A session shouldn’t happen just to satisfy an irresponsible opposition party that has a fancy idea. Let me tell you about the leaders of Congress. The whole thing highlights the differences within the party. I ask Jairam Ramesh, has he confirmed from Azad and Chowdhury that there was no consultation? I doubt they’re talking. Leaders like Ramesh insult their own party leaders to appease their bosses. He just wants to show loyalty to his leadership.
Does Congress say the government is avoiding issues like farm laws because of which the winter session was canceled?
Congress should look at its performance in the polls as it faces a nationwide beating at every level. Discussions are taking place with farmers and we are confident that they (farmers) will understand that the changes made to the laws are in their interest.
When will Parliament meet? Will it be a full session?
The budget session will take place starting in January and will be a full session as there are many more business than the usual joint session. In fact, we want a longer session as there is a lot of legislation, including ordinances. We are surprised by the reaction of the leaders of Congress when their allies have also spoken out against holding the winter session. Even Shiv Sena said no to the session. We expect a vaccine in January-February, after which things will get even better.
Will the security arrangements observed in the monsoon session continue?
Let’s see how things go … if the situation does not improve, then the arrangements are already there and will continue, of course.
Does the opposition say that democracy is being harmed by not convening the winter session?
There could be no greater irony than Congress and the TMC talking about democracy. The high command of Congress has turned outcasts leaders who demanded elections for the office of party president.
The opposition says it was not consulted. Were consultations carried out and what was the response from the main parties?
Consultations were held with all major political parties before the decision was made to suspend the winter session and the parties that make it a problem are doing so with a political motive. The leaders were unanimous that the Covid situation in the national capital was grim and the session should be avoided. Leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress), Sudip Bandopadhyay (TMC), Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), TR Balu and Tiruchi Siva (DMK) and some others agreed that the session should be combined with the budget session in January. . Congress and TMC are raising the issue because of their internal situation, as some leaders want to impress their bosses. Let the floor leaders deny that there was no consultation. We also speak with YSRCP and other regional parties. I have two questions: when the monsoon session took place in September, most of these parties questioned it and sought an early conclusion. Second, many MPs from these parties do not come to Delhi to even attend committee meetings. Conversations are very sensitive and it is unethical to go into detail.
Even if the Covid situation was bad in November, now it is better. Couldn’t a short winter session be called as the opposition is making it a problem?
There has to be an interval between two sessions and there should be some time to start working. The next session is coming up and we have to prepare for that. A session shouldn’t happen just to satisfy an irresponsible opposition party that has a fancy idea. Let me tell you about the leaders of Congress. The whole thing highlights the differences within the party. I ask Jairam Ramesh, has he confirmed from Azad and Chowdhury that there was no consultation? I doubt they’re talking. Leaders like Ramesh insult their own party leaders to appease their bosses. He just wants to show loyalty to his leadership.
Does Congress say the government is avoiding issues like farm laws because of which the winter session was canceled?
Congress should look at its performance in the polls as it faces a nationwide beating at every level. Discussions are taking place with farmers and we are confident that they (farmers) will understand that the changes made to the laws are in their interest.
When will Parliament meet? Will it be a full session?
The budget session will take place starting in January and will be a full session as there are many more business than the usual joint session. In fact, we want a longer session as there is a lot of legislation, including ordinances. We are surprised by the reaction of the leaders of Congress when their allies have also spoken out against holding the winter session. Even Shiv Sena said no to the session. We expect a vaccine in January-February, after which things will get even better.
Will the security arrangements observed in the monsoon session continue?
Let’s see how things go … if the situation does not improve, then the arrangements are already there and will continue, of course.
Does the opposition say that democracy is being harmed by not convening the winter session?
There could be no greater irony than Congress and the TMC talking about democracy. The high command of Congress has turned outcasts leaders who demanded elections for the office of party president.
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