NEW DELHI, Nov 25: The Winter Session of Parliament commenced today, with 19 sittings scheduled over the next 26 days. The session, which will run until December 20, includes a packed agenda, with no sittings on November 26 to observe Constitution Day. The main event commemorating Constitution Day will be held in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, the historic site where the Indian Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949.
During the session, 16 bills are slated for introduction, consideration, and passage. Among the key legislation to be discussed are the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Railways (Amendment) Bill, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, and the Indian Ports Bill, 2024. Additionally, the government will present the Supplementary Demands for Grants for the financial year 2024-25 for discussion and voting.
Ahead of the session, an all-party meeting was convened yesterday in New Delhi to ensure smooth proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju addressed the press after the meeting, stating that the government is ready to engage in discussions on any topic. He also called on opposition parties to cooperate for a productive and peaceful session. Rijiju shared that 42 leaders from 30 political parties participated in the meeting, where various topics were raised. These issues will be reviewed by the Business Advisory Committee to set the agenda for parliamentary debates. “We want proper and peaceful discussions in both houses,” Rijiju said.
Among the key topics that the opposition intends to raise, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari highlighted issues such as an alleged bribery scandal involving an industrialist, the ongoing situation in Manipur, unemployment, and the worsening pollution crisis in North India. The all-party meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and saw the participation of Union Ministers J.P. Nadda, Anupriya Patel, and Dr. L. Murugan, along with MPs from various parties, including the BJD, Samajwadi Party, MDMK, and Congress.
