Parliament Special Session, 2023

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Rajya Sabha chamber in the Sansad Bhavan
Lok Sabha chamber in the Sansad Bhavan

A Special Session in Parliament of India will be held from 18 to 22 September 2023. This 5-day assembly meet of MPs was announced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on 31 August 2023.[1] The upcoming parliamentary gathering will mark the 13th session of the 17th Lok Sabha and the 261st session of the Rajya Sabha.[2]

On 17 September, the Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar in presence of Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla hoisted the National Flag of India on the top of Gaja Dwar, one day prior to the special session at the newly constructed Sansad Bhavan.[3][4] Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge expressed "disappointment" over receiving the invitation for the event "quite late". He scheduled Congress Working Committee meeting in Hyderabad on 16-17 September.[5]

It is anticipated that this special session will witness the transfer of parliamentary proceedings from the existing premises of British-era building to the New Parliament House, the Sansad Bhavan in the national capital.[6]

It is probable that the upcoming 5-day special session of Parliament will not include Question Hour, Zero Hour, or Private Member Business.[7][8]

Agenda[edit]

While the agenda for the House business was notified on 13 September, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has convened a meeting with the floor leaders of various political parties on 17th September. On the inaugural day, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will have a discussion on Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha – Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings. Opposition parties criticized the early announcement without disclosing the agenda.[9]

The parliamentary bulletin showed the Post Office Bill, 2023, the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 and the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023 are legislative bills listed for the business in Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha will have additional discussion on the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 and the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023.[10]

Reactions[edit]

Delay in release of tentative agenda for the Special Session from official sources led to various assumptions across the political parties. Many saw convening of Parliament Special Session as something related to upcoming elections. G20 invitation from the President referring India as Bharat sparked many speculations.[11][12]

Seventy-four years ago, on 18 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India held a meeting chaired by Dr Rajendra Prasad to discuss whether the country should be called “Bharat” or “India”. The proposal by H.V. Kamath of the All India Forward Bloc sought to replace the name of the country from "India" to "Bharat". However, the amendment was ultimately defeated by a vote of 38 to 51. Historians and political analysts say it may not just be a coincidence that the special session has been called on the same date.[13]

Some speculated on the Government pushing for "one nation, one election" bill[14] while Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar guessed the current Lok Sabha might be dissolved to call for early national elections along with poll-bound states.[15] Pointing out the suspense over agenda, Jairam Ramesh said the government would throw "legislative grenades" during the special session.[16] Asaduddin Owaisi demanded for a discussion on Chinese incursion in the Ladakh region.[17] Mallikarjun Kharge termed the government decision without consulting opposition parties to convene special session of Parliament as an indicator of "dictatorship".[18] Sanjay Raut said the special session of Parliament called by the Government is an act "deceit" and termed it as "cheating with Ganpati Ji."[19] Sonia Gandhi wrote to Prime Minister raising the issues her party would like to have debate in the special session of the Parliament.[20] Rahul Gandhi linked the session to "panic" of government as he was raising the "uncomfortable" Adani issue in the Parliament.[21] Nana Patole asserted that the forthcoming parliamentary session has been convened with the purpose of declaring Mumbai as Union Territory and separating it from Maharashtra.[22]

Some hinted at Government bringing back the Women’s Reservation Bill. The UPA led 15th Lok Sabha failed to pass the bill due to strong opposition from political parties, including Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal. It was suggested that BJP might "expose" ideological differences among the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.[23] Media reports emerged that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir might be restored in this special session.[24][25] Political commentators signaled the possibilities of government bringing the Uniform Civil Code, Universal Basic Income or the Presidential form of national elections.[26][27]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Govt calls special session of Parliament later this month, gives no reason". The Indian Express. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "Special Session of Parliament from September 18-22". cnbctv18.com. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  3. ↑ "VP Jagdeep Dhankar to unfurl tricolour at new Parliament building day before special session". Northeast Live.
  4. ↑ "Govt to convene All Party Meeting today, ahead of special session of Parliament". newsonair.gov.in. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "Rajya Sabha Chairman hoists national flag at new Parliament building". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Govt releases agenda of Parliament's Special Session starting from 18 September". mint. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "No Question Hour, Zero Hour in special session of Parliament: Sources". First India. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Parliament special session: Very few instances of Question Hour being scrapped". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Joy, Shemin. "Centre releases agenda for Special Session of Parliament: Details here". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  10. ↑ Bureau, The Hindu. "Special Session to debate Parliament's 75-year journey, take up Bills". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Kaushik, Krishn. "Is India changing its name to Bharat? G20 invite controversy explained". Reuters. Retrieved 15 September 2023. ..... the government announced a surprise five-day special session of parliament later this month, without disclosing any agenda. The move prompted unconfirmed reports that a change of name could be discussed and passed during the session. There has been no confirmation that such a move is in the works, but members of the government and the ruling BJP have suggested that the name Bharat should take primacy over India.
  12. ↑ France-Presse, Agence. "Bharat G20 invitation fuels rumours India may change name". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 September 2023. India hosts the G20 summit this weekend, and world leaders have received an invitation to a state dinner hosted by the "president of Bharat". Modi himself typically refers to India as Bharat, a word dating back to ancient Hindu scriptures written in Sanskrit, and one of two official names for the country under its constitution. Members of his Hindu nationalist ruling party, Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), have previously campaigned against using the name India, which has its roots in western antiquity and was imposed during the British conquest. The government has called a special session of parliament for later in the month, but remains tight-lipped about its legislative agenda, but the broadcaster News18 said unnamed government sources had told it that BJP lawmakers would put forward a special resolution to give precedence to the name Bharat. Rumours of the plan were met with a mix of opposition and enthusiastic support.
  13. ↑ Chhabra, Rahul. "Constituent Assembly debated Bharat-India on 18 Sept 1949; special session on 18 Sept 2023". The Sunday Guardian Live. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "India ponders simultaneous federal, state polls to save time". Reuters. Retrieved 15 September 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has called a surprise, special five-day session of parliament from Sept. 18 to 22 but has not disclosed the agenda. Media have reported that the "one nation, one election" move could be introduced this session but (Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad) Joshi, when asked about it, said the agenda would be made known later. Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has for long pushed the idea of combining state and federal elections as it would also help cut the cost of conducting polls in the world's most populous country.
  15. ↑ Sinha, Shishir. "Special session of Parliament may see bills for One Nation-One Election, Women Reservation". BusinessLine. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  16. ↑ "Much ado about nothing: Jairam Ramesh on Parliament session agenda". Business Standard. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  17. ↑ Mohammed, Syed. "Parliament special session should include discussion on Chinese transgressions: Owaisi". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "'India becoming a dictatorship… no special session of Parliament when Manipur was burning': Kharge hits out at PM Modi". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "'Deceit, cheating with Ganpati Ji': Sanjay Raut slams special Parliament session". India Today. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  20. ↑ "Sonia Gandhi writes to PM on special session, flags Manipur, Adani, caste census for discussion". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  21. ↑ "Government convenes Special Session of Parliament, speculations on agenda arise". mint. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  22. ↑ "Nana Patole: Special session of Parliament a ploy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  23. ↑ Athrady, Ajith. "Parliament special session likely to take up Women's Reservation Bill". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  24. ↑ "The Special Session of Parliament: Could it be About J&K?". NewsClick. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  25. ↑ "Special session: CEC bill, Parl's 75-year history on the agenda". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  26. ↑ Chawla, Prabhu. "Surprise parliamentary session another Modi adventurism". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  27. ↑ "India may introduce 'One Nation, One Election' Bill in special session of Parliament — social media reacts". cnbctv18.com. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
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