New Delhi: In two opposition strategy meetings on Tuesday, political parties will plan their agenda for the special session of Parliament on September 18-22 and prepare for any surprise moves by the government, which is yet to reveal its plan. Is. People are aware of the matter.
Congress leader Manickam Tagore said the meeting of the Congress’ parliamentary strategy group would be held at 5 pm, followed by a meeting of leaders of the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) block at 7.30 pm.
Government officials indicated that the agenda for the four-day special session would be announced only after the G20 summit on September 9-10. This has forced opposition parties to brace for surprise moves by the government, including a possible draft law on key issues such as sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and the Women’s Reservation Bill. The session is taking place at a time when the government has made a fresh push to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies and is headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind for an in-depth look at the “One Nation, One Election” plan. Formed a panel.
While several opposition parties, including the Congress, which introduced the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha in March 2010, and the Trinamool Congress party, a vocal supporter of the draft law, have little choice but to support it, the OBC sub-categorization may change. This has become a more complex issue for the Indian faction.
A Congress strategist said they would have to study any bill on OBC reservation, while Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said his party would take a decision on it at an appropriate time.
The G Rohini Commission, set up in 2017, was tasked with identifying OBCs and placing them into various subcategories. The panel was also tasked with reviewing the disparities in benefits received by various castes and communities within the OBCs. The report of the committee was submitted to President Draupadi Murmu on 31 July.
HT reported on Saturday that the commission’s recommendations could be a major deviation from the traditional way of handling reservation policy in India.
This comes at a time when several opposition parties are demanding caste census. The ruling coalition in Bihar, comprising the Janata Dal (United), the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and the Left parties, has gone a step further and passed a resolution in the assembly to launch such a survey. The Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar has supported this proposal.
A section of opposition leaders said that the Indian bloc may demand a caste census, or pressurize the government to make public the data of the socio-economic caste census, which has been withheld by the government.
“But it will not be possible to oppose the bill on sub-categorisation of OBCs,” said an opposition leader on condition of anonymity. “
The Congress had proposed a sub-quota for most backward castes in the 27% OBC reservation before the 2012 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. A decision is yet to be taken on the overall restructuring of the OBC quota.
A Congress leader said the meetings on Tuesday have also been called to evolve a common strategy on issues such as the latest adverse revelations on the Adani group and topics discussed during the last three meetings of the India bloc.
“Apart from the Adani issue, we have identified unemployment, price rise, India-China border situation and federal structure as key issues for this session. Manipur also remains an important issue for us,” said the Congress strategist on condition of anonymity.
The Trinamool Congress, the largest opposition party after the Congress in Parliament, was in broad agreement. “These are all important issues. O’Brien said, “The Trinamool Congress will attend the floor leaders’ meeting with an open mind to work together with other parties in India.”
The Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group, led by Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi, will meet to discuss the party’s internal strategy on potential issues. Another Congress leader, on condition of anonymity, said, “Our strategy will be in line with the opposition’s bigger plans.”
