Parliament Winter Session: Government Lists 16 Bills, Opposition Seeks Priority Discussion on Adani and Manipur Issues

Ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, the government conducted an all-party meeting where opposition parties called for urgent debates on issues such as the Adani Group bribery claims and the Manipur conflict. The session's agenda includes 16 bills, notably the Waqf Amendment Bill, for which a joint committee report is awaited.

By Joseph Mathews Nov 24, 2024, 13:28 IST

Parliament Winter Session: In the run-up to the winter session of Parliament, the government yesterday held an all-party meeting to discuss the agenda. The Congress party insisted on discussions on the bribery allegations against the Adani Group and the Manipur issue. Other opposition parties also demanded debates on northern India's pollution issues and recent rail accidents.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari pointed out that allegations of over ₹2,300 crore paid to politicians and bureaucrats by Adani Group for favors in solar project deals were urgent. The party sought inclusion of the matter in Monday's session, highlighting national economic and security interests.

Session Agenda and Bills

The Winter Session will go on between November 27 and December 20, with a total of 16 bills targeted, including the Waqf Amendment Bill. Waqf Amendment Bill: Among key legislations, the Waqf Amendment Bill awaits a report from a joint parliamentary committee. The joint committee, headed by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, has been pushed to extend the deadline for submitting the report amid opposition demand citing disruptions in its meetings.

Key Takeaways of All-Party Meeting

Key participants of the meeting included BJP President J.P. Nadda, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Gaurav Gogoi, and members from other parties such as T. Shiva, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and Anupriya Patel. This meeting was chaired by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who aimed to make the session more streamlined.

The opposition's insistence that certain matters, such as Adani and Manipur, should be taken up in priority discussions might set the tone for the Winter Session, as discussion on these issues may dominate parliamentarians.