Monsoon Session: Opposition Walks Out Of All Party Meeting Over NCPI Invite

A day before the commencement of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, a high-stakes all-party meeting was convened in Delhi on Sunday. The meeting, chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, witnessed significant drama as several opposition parties staged a walkout, while the primary cause of the friction was the invitation extended to the rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), now identifying as NCPI. Following the conclusion of the meeting, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju addressed the media, emphasizing that disruptions in Parliament would lead to political losses and hinder democratic processes.

Rijiju Warns Against Disruptions

Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that if the opposition continues to create a ruckus, meaningful discussions won't take place. He remarked that a non-functional Parliament is detrimental to democracy. While acknowledging that the meeting eventually proceeded well, he noted that the opposition had staged a walkout for some time at the beginning. Rijiju appealed to the opposition to prioritize discussion over disruption, suggesting that even smaller parties should be given an opportunity to speak. He reiterated that the government is keen on passing bills only after thorough debates, as the nation expects the Parliament to function with dignity. A total of 40 party representatives participated in the meeting. Regarding the NCPI, Rijiju explained that 20 MPs had requested separate seating, a matter currently under consideration by the Speaker. He questioned how the rights of these 20 MPs could be ignored. The government has listed 8 bills through the bulletin and assured that any additional bills, such as those related to delimitation, would be brought after discussions in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC).

Opposition Concerns and Allegations

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi expressed that the issues facing the country are far more significant than the bills proposed by the government. He demanded that the government provide answers on various pressing matters. Gogoi specifically mentioned the alleged theft of donations related to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, stating that the entire country is saddened by this unfortunate subject. He criticized the government for a lack of accountability and sensitivity. During the meeting, the opposition raised issues concerning injustice against students, protests, ethanol, farmers, and the situation in Manipur, while gogoi also touched upon the delimitation bill, insisting that the government must consult all parties and states before proceeding. He characterized the current state of affairs as a theft of democracy and the sanctity of the House.

The NCPI Controversy and Walkout

The invitation to Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Kakoli Ghosh from the rebel TMC group (NCPI) sparked a fierce reaction. TMC MP Mahua Moitra stated that the entire opposition, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, JMM, AAP, National Conference, Left parties, and Shiv Sena (UBT), walked out in protest. She argued that the NCPI is an unrecognized party and that the list provided by the table office incorrectly showed the All India Trinamool Congress strength as 28 members by including these rebels. Moitra pointed out that the Speaker has not yet approved the merger of these 20 rebel MPs and that 20 disqualification petitions are still pending. On the other hand, NCPI leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay claimed that they're the second-largest party in the NDA, larger than the parties of Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar. He stated that they've submitted all necessary documents to the Speaker and are awaiting a decision on their seating and disqualification status.

Reactions from Other Leaders

JDU National Executive President Sanjay Jha commented on the Ram Temple issue, calling it a sad matter linked to public sentiment. He mentioned that an investigation committee is looking into the allegations and the legal process is underway. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav termed the government's process as undemocratic and unconstitutional, accusing them of trying to weaken democracy, while jMM MP Mahua Maji added that the walkout was a response to the systematic breaking of political parties through various inducements. She questioned why rebel MPs from Maharashtra were invited to the all-party meeting despite not yet receiving formal recognition from the Speaker. Congress leader Pramod Tiwari confirmed that the walkout was a collective decision to protect the Constitution, although a final strategy for the session is yet to be determined. The Lok Sabha Secretariat had recently released the party-wise strength, which still counted the 20 rebels as part of the TMC but noted the request for separate seating.