Opposition parties call separate meet to strategise ahead of Parliament's monsoon session

The monsoon session is expected to be quite stormy, with the Opposition gearing up to corner the ruling BJP-led NDA government over a host of issues ranging from farmers' agitation, privatisation, and the Supreme Court's comments on the validity of sedition laws

Ahead of the monsoon session of the Parliament, an all-party meeting called by Union parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi is underway. However, all the opposition parties will come together for a separate session following the meeting to chalk out a strategy to target the central government over a host of issues ranging from farmers' agitation, privatisation, and the Supreme Court's comments on the validity of sedition laws, reported news agency ANI citing a Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) leader.

The Parliament building reflected in a puddle after heavy rain. (AP / File Photo)

"We have decided that the meeting of opposition leaders will be held immediately after the meeting convened by the Union parliamentary minister is over," ANI quoted CPIM Rajya Sabha MP and floor leader Elamaram Kareem as saying.

He said that the opposing parties will try to reach a "consensus" about the issues that are to be raised in the forthcoming monsoon session starting on Monday.

The monsoon session of the Parliament is scheduled to start tomorrow (i.e. from Monday, July 19). It will be the first session after the second wave of the deadly coronavirus disease (Covid-19) broke out in the country. The session is expected to conclude on August 13, with 19 days of business.

The monsoon session is expected to be quite stormy, with the Opposition gearing up to corner the ruling BJP-led NDA government. "Privatisation, farmers issue, government's attitude towards federalism and many other issues are there," the CPI-M told the news agency, "The Supreme Court's comments on 124 A of the IPC is a national issue."

"The aim is to achieve maximum consensus among the opposition parties," he added. "But, if all parties do not agree on the proposal of the left parties, particularly Privatisation Bill, and factory employees' strike issue then left parties will raise these issues in both houses of the Parliament separately."