Opposition parties walk out of the all-party meeting

On the eve of the commencement of the parliament’s monsoon sessions, an all-party meeting was held on Sunday under the chairmanship of Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. However, shortly after the meeting began, the Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party, DMK, JMM, National Conference, Shiv Sena (UBT), AAP, and Left parties walked out. They expressed their protest by staging the walkout.

On the other hand, the Center requested all political parties to cooperate for the smooth conduct of the parliament sessions. Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, J.P. Nadda, Arjun Ram Meghwal, along with several other union ministers, attended this meeting.

However, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) protested against the invitation extended to the rebel MPs of their party for this meeting. Following this, the leaders of the INDIA bloc parties walked out.

The opposition parties strongly faulted the invitation extended to the rebel TMC MPs for the all-party meeting. They expressed anger over arranging special seating for them in the Lok Sabha and acting in a manner that recognizes them while disqualifying petitions are still pending with the Speaker. They alleged that such actions are against the spirit of democracy. On this occasion, the opposition leaders also raised the issue of the merger of rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra questioned on what basis the rebel MPs under the name of NCPI, which has no official recognition, were invited to the meeting. She stated that the disqualification petitions against them are still pending with the Speaker and, according to constitutional amendments, there is no provision for a special block. She said that all the opposition parties walked out precisely in protest against this action.