Opposition Demands Lok Sabha Dy Speaker Post in All-Party Meeting Ahead of Parliament Session

New Delhi: In a crucial all-party meeting held ahead of the Parliament session, the Congress party on Sunday pressed for the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker’s position for the opposition. The meeting, convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, also saw the opposition raising significant issues such as paper leaks, including the prestigious NEET exam.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi emphasized the need for the opposition to address various issues in Parliament, following Rijiju’s call for cooperation to ensure smooth functioning of the Houses. Additionally, Samajwadi Party MP Ramgopal Yadav criticized the Uttar Pradesh government’s order for eateries along the kanwariya route to display the owners’ names.

The YSR Congress highlighted the TDP government’s alleged targeting of its leaders in Andhra Pradesh, urging the Centre’s intervention.

The meeting saw attendance from key political figures including BJP president JP Nadda, Congress’s K Suresh, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, RJD’s Abhay Kushwaha, JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, SP’s Ramgopal Yadav and NCP’s Praful Patel.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget on Tuesday during the session, which begins Monday and will have 19 sittings until August 12.

The government plans to introduce six bills, including one to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act and seek approval for the Jammu and Kashmir budget, currently under central rule. The Economic Survey will also be tabled on Monday.