Stories
Kiren Rijiju Counters Kharge's Claims on Delimitation Consultations
- •Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded to Mallikarjun Kharge's letter, rejecting claims that the government failed to engage with the Opposition on the Delimitation Constitutional Amendment Bill.
- •Rijiju highlighted that extensive consultations have already been conducted with key regional and opposition parties including DMK, SP, YSRCP, NCP, Shiv Sena UBT, AIMIM, and BJD.
- •The minister stated that he wrote to Kharge multiple times and personally held discussions with opposition leaders, but Congress failed to provide dates for formal talks.
- •Addressing concerns about the delayed prorogation of Parliament, Rijiju emphasized that there is no constitutional requirement mandating a specific timeframe.
- •Rijiju urged the Congress leadership to play a constructive role in parliamentary proceedings rather than repeatedly demanding consultations that have already taken place.
Key Questions Answered
Kiren Rijiju stated that the government held extensive consultations across party lines with key regional and opposition parties, including the DMK, Samajwadi Party (SP), YSRCP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM, and BJD.
Rijiju emphasized that there is no constitutional requirement mandating a specific timeframe for proroguing Parliament, citing historical precedents where Houses remained unprorogued for extended periods without procedural impropriety.
Mallikarjun Kharge urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the proposed Delimitation Constitutional Amendment Bill and warned against pushing it through without wider consultations. He also flagged an unprecedented delay in proroguing the Monsoon Session of Parliament after 64 days had passed since it was adjourned sine die.
