Oppn to take up jobs, economy in Winter Session

Opposition parties said on Saturday they will seek answers from the NDA government over a slowing economy, growing unemployment and farm distress during Parliament’s winter session, which is scheduled to be held from November 18 to December 13.

Ahead of the upcoming Parliament session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appealed to all political parties to cooperate in ensuring a smooth functioning of the House. Political leaders attended an all-party meeting on Saturday to discuss issues they wished to debate on during the Parliament session. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) Lok Sabha floor leader, Pinaki Misra, also demanded a day-long discussion on the deteriorating air quality in the National Capital Region. His proposal was supported by Birla and other opposition parties.

Birla said the House will try to discuss all issues raised by the parties. PM Modi praised the Lok Sabha Speaker for a fruitful monsoon session and said he hoped to see similar results in the upcoming session. Elaborating on the Opposition’s strategy for the winter session, Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandopadhyay said: “Issues of unemployment, economic conditions, farmer’s plight and price rise are likely to be discussed in the House. But we have also requested the Speaker that the Opposition should be given more space. We reminded him how we cooperated with him in the last session.” The Congress’s floor leader Adhir Chowdhury earlier said that their “main focus will be on the bread and butter issues, the way the BJP has mismanaged the economy and shrinking job opportunities”.

CPI (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said “the Left’s focus will be on the misery imposed by the government on the vast majority of the people”.