NEW DELHI: The stage appeared to be set for a stormy winter session of Parliament beginning Monday, with the Congress-led Opposition demanding discussions on the alleged bribery case in the US against Adani Group Company, the Manipur violence, pollution in north India and train accidents. The government, whereas, said that the business advisory committees of both Houses would decide on matters to be taken up for deliberations and urged to ensure smooth functioning.
The government convened a customary all-party meeting a day ahead the beginning of the session, as ruling party leaders led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met the floor leaders of political parties.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said that the government has appealed to all parties to ensure smooth running of Parliament.
Responding to a question on the Opposition’s demand for taking up the Adani issue, the minister said the respective Business Advisory Committees of the Houses “will decide on matters to be discussed in Parliament with the consent from Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha chairperson.
At the meeting, Congress members raised the issue of bribery charges against the Adani group as well as the situation in Manipur.
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said the party wants discussion on Adani as well as ethnic strife in Manipur. He said while the Chief Minister of Jharkhand was arrested on corruption charges, the Centre still has confidence in the CM of Manipur despite several bouts of ethnic violence.
The Opposition party also sought a discussion on the issue of rising pollution in north India and train accidents.
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said his party wanted the issue of Adani to be taken up in Parliament as the first thing when it meets on Monday. It is a grave issue involving the country’s economic and security interests as over `2,200 crore were allegedly paid by the company to politicians and bureaucrats to get favourable deals for its solar energy projects, he said.
Billionaire Gautam Adani has been charged by the US prosecutors for allegedly being part of a scheme to pay $265 million (about `2,200 crore) bribe to Indian officials in exchange of favourable terms for solar power contracts.
But the group has so far denied the charges.