"It should be constructive and productive session if everyone gets chance to speak": Shashi Tharoor
Thiruvananthapuram, July 16
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said the upcoming Parliament session starting from July 20 should be "very constructive and productive" in case everyone gets a chance to speak.
Speaking to reporters here, Tharoor said the government has listed some of the proposed bills and is expected to brief political parties at an all-party meeting on Sunday.
"The government has listed some of the eight bills. I think there's going to be an all-party meeting on Sunday where the government will tell the parties what exactly they're going to come up with".
"There are three constitutional amendment bills also on the anvil. One is that they might come back with Delimitation. Another one, they might come back with the One Nation, One Election, where there is a parliamentary committee now studying that subject. Their report is due during the session. And then there is another constitutional amendment which would dismiss MPs, CMs, MLAs if they have been jailed for thirty days, so all of these may come up, and they're all constitutional amendments that would require a two-thirds majority in the House...," Congress MP added.
He also said that the opposition will raise several issues during the Monsoon session of Parliament, including the allegations of theft of public donations received at Ram Mandir.
"I think this whole question of the theft and misappropriation of donations in the Ayodhya temple has agitated a lot of people. We are very concerned about the crisis facing the students after the failure of the NEET exam and the CBSE exam. This new complication with ethanol, E20 fuel"
"It should be a very constructive and productive session if everyone gets a chance to speak. But I think if the government tries its usual practice of not letting the opposition raise any issues, then I really worry how this parliament session will go..." Congress MP added.
Meanwhile, the JPC is expected to finalise and adopt its report at its meeting on July 17 before submitting it to Parliament for further consideration.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, is linked to the proposed reform popularly known as "One Nation, One Election," which seeks to synchronise elections for the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is also part of the broader framework aimed at facilitating the implementation of simultaneous elections across the country.
These Bills, introduced on December 17, 2024, in the Lok Sabha and sent to the JPC for further scrutiny, collectively aim to introduce simultaneous elections across the country.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I appreciate Tharoor's balanced approach, but let's be honest - both parties are guilty of disrupting sessions. We need constructive dialogue, not just blame games. One Nation One Election sounds interesting but needs careful thought, not rushed implementation.
Having observed Indian politics for years, I've noticed the real issue is lack of trust between ruling and opposition parties. Tharoor's comment about "constructive session" is idealistic but naive - the government will likely push through bills regardless. The 30-day jail amendment for MPs seems draconian too.
Finally someone talking sense! Tharoor is right - if the government keeps muzzling opposition, democracy suffers. The Ayodhya temple donation scandal is indeed serious. Crores of devotee money unaccounted for needs answers. Also, E20 ethanol policy is going to mess up our food security. 🤔
Tharoor makes valid points about parliamentary procedures, but the opposition should also introspect. How many times have they walked out or shouted down speakers? Both sides need to behave better. That said, the One Nation One Election bill needs thorough debate - synchronizing state and national elections is complex legally and practically.
Tharoor is one of the few politicians who actually reads bills before speaking. I'm worried about the 30-day jail amendment for MPs - that's a slippery slope. What if someone is falsely implicated? And the Delimitation bill is going to be explosive for southern states. This session will be a test for Indian democracy. 😕
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.