Government deliberately delaying winter session: Congress

The Congress has criticised the government for “deliberately delaying” the winter session of Parliament and alleged it was an attempt to evade “Jay Shah-Shaurya issues” that could be raised during the session when campaign for Gujarat elections was on. The Congress references were to the row over business dealings of Amit Shah’s son and a think-tank run by NSA Ajit Doval’s son.

Refusing to concede to the claim that the session was being delayed due to political preoccupation of parties with the Gujarat election campaign, AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, “are we having state assembly polls for the first time in the midst of a Parliament session? We have state assembly polls every year. However, till now, no date for the session has been announced. It seems the government is avoiding Parliament session to avoid discussions on Jay Shah-Shaurya issues.”

The Congress protest came a day after ET reported about a likely delay in convening the winter session and speculation that the delay may have been to avoid Opposition heat over Jay Shah and GST related issues amid Gujarat elections.

Terming the government move as of ‘adhocism’, Singhvi expressed apprehension that eventually the ruling dispensation would reduce the session into a token sitting. The Congress leadership is also considering the option of mobilising like minded Opposition parties, if the delay in convening the session lingers, to unitedly take up the issue with the government or with the President.

Traditionally, the winter session begins around the third week of November and ends before Christmas. ET had reported that the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs was slated to meet on November 17.