'Special session convened without consultation, but want to participate because...' Sonia writes to Modi

The issues listed by Gandhi included Centre-state relations, "rise in cases of communal tension and border transgressions by China".

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointing out that no agenda has been given for the Special Session of Parliament and listed nine issues, including Manipur, caste census, price rise and allegations against Adani Group, for discussion during the five-day period.

In the two page letter in English, she said they "most certainly want to" participate in the session as it gives them an opportunity to raise matters of public concern and importance and demanded that time be allocated for the issues raised by her under an appropriate rule.

"I must point out this special session has been convened without any consultation with other political parties. None of us have any idea of its agenda. All we have been communicated is that all five days have been allocated for government business," Sonia wrote.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi responded to Sonia through a letter in Hindi, accusing her of “politicising” a Parliament session and that she may “not know the convention” that parties are not consulted on holding sessions or its agenda.

“We are ready to discuss any issue anytime. But all points which you have mentioned were raised during the debate on the no confidence motion in the Monsoon Session and the government responded to them. We will share the agenda of the Special Session at the appropriate time,” he said.

Releasing the letter, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh told a press conference that this is the first time no agenda has been discussed or publicised for a special session, which will be held between September 18 and 22.

In the letter, Sonia has demanded a discussion on the current economic situation with focus on "increasing price rise, growing unemployment, rise in inequalities and distress in MSMEs". She also wanted the government to debate the commitment made by the government to farmers and farmer organisations with regard to MSP and other demands raised by them.

The demands also included a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani Group's transactions in light of "all revelations" as well as the "continued agony faced by the people of Manipur and breakdown of Constitutional machinery and social harmony in the state". 

"Rise in communal tension in different states like Haryana, continued occupation of Indian territory by China and challenges to the sovereignty on borders in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, urgent need for caste census, damages being inflicted on Centre-State relations and impact of natural disasters caused by extreme floods and droughts in states," the letter mentioned.

"I earnestly hope that in a spirit of constructive cooperation, these issues will be taken up in the forthcoming special session," she wrote.

To a question, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said,  "All his actions -- his revival of a dead NDA when our Bengaluru meeting was going on, his response to the formation of the I.N.D.I.A group, his unilateral decision to call this five-day session... These are all symbols of a panic-stricken administration. After nine years, it is a case of maximum fatigue, maximum panic."

He said they wanted the upcoming session to be constructive and this was decided at the meeting of the strategy group and during the meeting of I.N.D.I.A parties. The letter came after a decision at the Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting, which was conveyed to I.N.D.I.A parties at a meeting later.