Opposition to question govt on price rise, farmers’ issue, Covid-19

Representatives of about a dozen opposition parties on Sunday resolved to question the government on the record-high fuel prices, inflation, farmers’ agitation, the agrarian crisis and the Covid-19 situation in the country in Parliament.

They are in the process of moving adjournment motions on these matters, people in the know said.

The meeting, convened by leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, was attended by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Anand Sharma, Kodiknnil Suresh, Jairam Ramesh (Congress), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Tiruchi Shiva (DMK), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), Derek O’Brien (Trinamool), Elamaram Kareem (CPM), Binoy Vishwam (CPI), Mohammad Basheer (IUML), NK Premachandran (RSP) Bhagwant Mann (AAP), Thomas Chazhikadan (KCM). While SP and BSP declined Kharge’s invitation, JMM, NC and AIUDF representatives could not attend the meeting as their MPs are yet to reach Delhi. These parties will coordinate regularly during the session.


While Pawar himself making an appearance at the opposition meeting, rather than sending a junior NCP nominee, burst the buzz his Saturday meeting with the PM had triggered, Trinamool parliamentary leader Sudhip Bandhopadhyaya sent O’Brien, in line with Trinamool Lok Sabha members’ plan of not sharing meetings with Adhir Ranjan Chodhury, a political foe of party leader Mamata Banerjee.