Winter Session of Parliament Begins: Manipur Violence and Adani Allegations Set to Dominate

The Winter Session of Parliament began today with a busy legislative agenda and the potential for intense debates on key issues, including the Manipur violence and allegations of financial misconduct involving industrialist Gautam Adani. Spanning 19 sittings over 26 days, the session will run until December 20, with discussions planned for 16 significant bills.

Key proposals on the agenda include the Waqf Amendment Bill, the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, and the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024. On the first day, the Lok Sabha is expected to deliberate on the Banking Laws and Railway Bills, while the Rajya Sabha will consider the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024.

The opposition, united under the INDIA bloc, is prioritising discussions on the Manipur unrest and allegations against the Adani Group. Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, expressed the bloc’s determination to spotlight these matters, stating, “We will ensure that the pressing concerns of the people, such as the situation in Manipur, are not sidelined.”

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, during an all-party meeting on November 24, called for cooperation to ensure a smooth session. “The government is open to discussing any topic. Our request to all parties is to conduct discussions in a smooth and orderly manner,” he said.