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Rahul Gandhi Rejects Government Outreach, Parliament Deadlock Continues
Parliament is a big meeting where leaders of the country make laws and ask questions.
Two groups of leaders — the government and the opposition — are very angry with each other.
The opposition wants to discuss money that went missing from a famous temple called the Ram Mandir.
They also want the Home Minister to explain what happened to students who protested about the NEET paper leak.
The government wants to pass new laws, including one that would change how voting areas are drawn and make the Lok Sabha much bigger.
A minister named Kiren Rijiju met opposition leader Rahul Gandhi to ask for his help.
Rahul Gandhi said no unless the other two topics are discussed first.
Because they cannot agree, the meetings keep stopping early and questions do not get answered.
The person in charge of the meeting said that shouting and holding signs lowers the dignity of the House.
This fight has already been going on for three weeks.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi rejected Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju's outreach, insisting Parliament cannot function until Amit Shah makes a statement on police action against students and a discussion is held on the alleged Ram Mandir donation theft.
The nearly 50-minute meeting — the second between the two leaders in 10 days — covered the Delimitation Bill, the Women's Reservation Bill and the FCRA Amendment Bill, but the Congress reaffirmed its opposition to delimitation.
The Lok Sabha has faced repeated disruptions since the Monsoon Session began on July 20, with Question Hour not completed; one article says five bills were passed without discussion, while another lists three.
The government has reportedly explored a special session from August 16 to 19 to take up the Delimitation Bill, which proposes expanding the Lok Sabha from 543 to about 850 seats; the Congress rejected such reports.
After the meeting, Rijiju consulted Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Home Minister Amit Shah, and plans to approach other Opposition leaders such as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as Birla warned that sloganeering lowers the dignity of the House.
- Who
- Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- What
- Rahul Gandhi rejected Rijiju's request for Congress cooperation on the Delimitation Bill and the Women's Reservation Bill, keeping the Lok Sabha deadlock in place.
- Where
- The Parliament complex in New Delhi, including the Leader of Opposition's chamber in Parliament House
- When
- Wednesday, in the third week of the Monsoon Session that began on July 20 and is scheduled to conclude on August 13
- Why
- The Opposition is demanding a discussion on the alleged donation theft at the Ram Mandir and a statement from Amit Shah on police action against students during the July 20 protest.
Opposition (Congress-led bloc)
Government (BJP-led NDA)
Order of business in Lok Sabha
Opposition (Congress-led bloc)
There can be no business in the House until a discussion is held on the alleged donation theft at the Ram Mandir and Amit Shah makes a statement on police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak.
Government (BJP-led NDA)
The government, backed by the BJP, wants to pass the Delimitation Bill, the Women's Reservation Bill and the FCRA Bill, and pressed the Opposition to cooperate for the smooth running of Parliament.
Police action against students on July 20
Opposition (Congress-led bloc)
Home Minister Amit Shah should make a statement in the House on police action against students during the July 20 protest in the Capital.
Government (BJP-led NDA)
The government rejects the charge, saying it is the magistrate who decides on the use of force during a protest, not the Home Minister.
Ram Mandir donation theft allegations
Opposition (Congress-led bloc)
The Opposition, led by the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), wants a discussion on the alleged 'chanda chori' (donation theft) at the Ram temple and has protested with symbolic donation boxes in the Parliament complex.
Government (BJP-led NDA)
Rijiju accused the Congress, Left parties and the SP of being against Lord Ram, saying they have always insulted and opposed him and should apologise to the nation.
Path for the Delimitation Bill
Opposition (Congress-led bloc)
The Congress is opposed to delimitation at this juncture and is consulting other Opposition parties such as the DMK, which vocally opposed the bill — M K Stalin had burned a copy of it in April, terming it a 'black law'.
Government (BJP-led NDA)
The government wants to pass the Delimitation Bill, which proposes expanding the Lok Sabha from 543 to around 850 seats, and hopes new numbers from defections from the Trinamool Congress and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena will help secure the required two-thirds majority.
Key facts
- Situation
- Lok Sabha deadlock in its third week of the Monsoon Session
- Session dates
- Began July 20; scheduled to conclude August 13
- Key meeting
- Rijiju met Rahul Gandhi for nearly 50 minutes — their second meeting in 10 days; Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Gaurav Gogoi and K.C. Venugopal also participated
- Government's legislative agenda
- Delimitation Bill, Women's Reservation Amendment Bill and FCRA Amendment Bill
- Delimitation proposal
- Expanding the Lok Sabha from 543 to around 850 seats
- Opposition demands
- Discussion on alleged donation theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya; Amit Shah statement on police action against students
- Bills passed without discussion
- One article reports five bills passed; another lists three (Public Examinations, Prevention of Insults to National Honour, and Registration of Births and Deaths amendments)
- FCRA criticism
- US Congressman Riley Moore alleged the amendments would enable the government to take over churches and religious charities and could hurt India-US ties
Quotes
Speaker Om Birla
Lok Sabha speaker
“"We don’t know anything about a special session. Today, Kiren Rijiju met us to discuss delimitation and ascertain the Opposition’s stand. Our position remains unchanged. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister is only trying to create confusion."”
deccanchronicle.com
“We want a discussion on the ‘chanda chori’ scam. We have also been demanding a statement from the Union Home Minister, who is responsible for the police firing and atrocities against students.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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