New Delhi: Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote to Speaker Om Birla Thursday, requesting him to convene a short winter session of Parliament to discuss “a number of very important issues that the nation is facing”.
In the letter, Chowdhury has noted the farmers’ agitation, the status of the Covid-19 vaccine, economic slowdown and the stand-off at the India-China border are some of the issues that need to be discussed in Parliament.
“The most notable among them are the ongoing farmers agitation, status/preparation of Covid-19 vaccine, the economic slowdown, unemployment scenario, the continuous stand-off on Indo-China border, unabated ceasefire violation on Indo-Pak border,” said the letter, a copy of which was accessed by ThePrint.
“There is a need for a thorough and transparent debate/discussion on all the above mentioned important issues… I shall request you that a short winter session may be convened taking all Covid precautions,” the letter further stated.
The previous monsoon session began on 14 September and ended on 24 September, eight days before it was scheduled to conclude. The session, conducted keeping in mind the unprecedented Covid situation, also witnessed the passing of the controversial farm bills.
‘This is the age-old convention’
Speaking to ThePrint, Chowdhury said it is the “age-old convention” that three Parliament sessions should be held in a year.
“In a year, three sessions are to be held, this is simply the age-old convention of our Parliament, not a hard-and-fast rule.
“But convention believes that there must be a budget, monsoon and winter session in a year. So far, we have heard no communication on any information about the winter session. So I have suggested that, given that there are a number of issues gaining ground among common people, there should be a short winter session,” Chowdhury added.
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