‘It will be short but of historic developments,’ says Modi about Parliament’s special session

‘It will be short but of historic developments,’ says Modi about Parliament’s special session

New Delhi: Ahead of addressing Lok Sabha in the special session of Parliament that began Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the sitting may be small, “but big on occasion”.

“It is a session of historic developments,” Modi told the media, highlighting the success of India’s moon mission and the recently-concluded G20 presidency.

“We hosted world leaders in 60 different cities… It was a live demonstration of the true spirit of our federal structure. The G20 became a celebration of India’s diversity… We became a voice of the Global South, we engineered a unanimous declaration. All these indicate the country’s bright future,” he added in his pre-session remarks.

The Prime Minister said the sitting may be short, but big on occasion. “Historic decisions will be taken. Another significant thing about this session is that the (post-Independence) 75-year-old journey is starting afresh from a new destination,” Modi said of Parliamentary business soon moving to the new Parliament building.

“New place, new resolutions, new energy and new trust… We have to make India a developed country by 2047,” Modi added.

VIDEO | “This is a session of historic decisions. A speciality of this Session is that the journey of 75 years is starting from a new point,” says PM Modi outside the Parliament ahead of the start of Special Session. #ParliamentSpecialSession #NewParliamentBuilding pic.twitter.com/YFc23VsmRm

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 18, 2023

The rare, five-day special session will discuss the Parliament’s 75-year journey – starting from the Constituent Assembly – and other legislative business.

Up for debate are eight Bills — among which are the contentious Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, and Post Office Bill, 2023.

The CEC Bill wants to drop the Chief Justice of India from the panel that appoints top election commission officers. Giving more say to the central government, the Bill proposes that the President of India select these officers on the recommendation of a Select Committee consisting of the Prime Minister — as the chairperson — the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet minister to be nominated by the PM.

The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha on 10 August — a day before the Monsoon Session concluded.

The Opposition’s INDIA bloc has resolved to resist this Bill, which the Congress calls “insidious”.

The Congress on Sunday also reiterated its demand that the Women’s Reservation Bill be passed during the special session of Parliament.

Edited by Tikli Basu