All-Party Meet: NEET Leak, Kanwar Yatra Row, Special Status For Bihar, Odisha And More
In the all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh ahead of the Parliament session, Congress raised important issues such as paper leaks, the recent UPSC controversies, and the “discriminatory” directives passed for the Kanwar Yatra.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a dig at BJP ally TDP for not raising a similar demand for Andhra Pradesh. Pointing out how the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Janata Dal (United), and the YSR Congress demanded special category status for Odisha, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh, respectively, Ramesh said, “Strangely, the TDP leader kept quiet on the matter.”
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In the all-party meeting of floor leaders chaired by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, my colleague Gaurav Gogoi presented the following issues on behalf of the INC that should be taken up in the Parliament session beginning tomorrow.
1. Governance issues relating to NEET/NET…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 21, 2024
The YSR Congress highlighted the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) government’s alleged targeting of its leaders in Andhra Pradesh, seeking the central government’s intervention and demanding the president’s rule to curb the prevailing lawlessness.
Meanwhile, TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu said that the state government will release a white paper on the financial state of Andhra Pradesh in a day or two, which he claimed will send shockwaves, as per The New Indian Express.
Samajwadi Party MP Ramgopal Yadav raised the Uttar Pradesh government’s controversial order for eateries on the ‘kanwariya’ route to display the names of the owners. The directive has been severely criticised for being “discriminatory” and questioning the intentions behind the move.
Video: Massive Backlash Over UP Police’s New Advisory For Eateries Along Kanwar Yatra Route
All the major opposition parties except the Trinamool Congress (TMC) were present at the meeting. According to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, 55 leaders from 44 parties were in attendance.
Congress leaders including Jairam Ramesh and K Suresh argued for the appointment of a Deputy Speaker from the Opposition ranks in the Lok Sabha.
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, NCP’s Praful Patel, RJD’s Abhay Kushwaha, S P leader Ramgopal Yadav, and JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha were also present at the meeting.
The monsoon session of parliament will begin on Monday and will have 19 sittings until August 12. The central government is expected to present six bills. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Economic Survey tomorrow, followed by the Union Budget on Tuesday.
