The winter session of Parliament starts today and will run until December 20, with several key bills and issues set to dominate discussions. Among the legislative agenda are the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, and others. Notably, the session is expected to see debates on the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill and other topics like the Manipur violence, air pollution in North India, and bribery allegations against the Adani Group.
Legislative Focus Areas
The government plans to introduce and debate multiple bills, including:
- Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill
- Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Goa Assembly Constituencies Bill
- Bills of Lading Bill
- Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill
- Railways (Amendment) Bill
- Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill
- Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill
Opposition’s Agenda
The INDIA bloc, representing the opposition parties, will finalize its strategy in a meeting at Parliament House before the session begins. Key points of focus include:
- Adani bribery allegations: US prosecutors recently indicted Gautam Adani and others for alleged involvement in a $265 million bribery scheme. The Adani Group has dismissed the charges as baseless.
- Manipur violence: Continued unrest in the northeastern state.
- North India air pollution: Persistent smog and its impact on public health.
Government Seeks Cooperation
At an all-party meeting on Sunday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged political parties to cooperate for a smooth session. However, the final agenda will be determined by the business advisory committees of both Houses, according to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
With contentious issues on the table, the winter session is poised to be both eventful and critical in addressing legislative and public concerns.
