New Delhi, 13 August (H.S.):

The Congress on Thursday described the opposition’s unity and pressure, which it claimed prevented the government from advancing several key bills during Parliament’s Monsoon Session, as a major achievement.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill and the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill could not be brought forward during the session, while the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) Amendment Bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

However, Ramesh expressed concern over the passage of the Mines and Minerals-related amendment legislation and the National Cooperative Development Corporation-related amendment bill without discussion.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters here, Ramesh said the 2026 Monsoon Session had been completely washed out. Comparing it with the Monsoon Session of 2015, he said the Vyapam scam was the major issue at that time, while the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and issues concerning the National Testing Agency (NTA) dominated the current political discourse. According to him, even after 11 years, issues concerning students and young people continue to confront Parliament.

Ramesh said the session witnessed considerable unity among opposition parties. Floor leaders of the opposition met every day for 18 days to formulate their strategy and decide on the issues to be raised in Parliament. He claimed that sustained pressure from the opposition forced the government to either reconsider its position on several issues or delay the progress of certain bills.

Ramesh described the failure to introduce the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill during the session as the first major achievement. He said the report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the bill has not yet been submitted and the legislation is now likely to be introduced during the Winter Session.

He identified the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill as the second achievement. Ramesh alleged that the proposed legislation would promote excessive centralisation in the functioning of universities. The JPC report on the bill was also not tabled during the session and its consideration has been deferred until the next session, he said.

As the third issue, Ramesh referred to the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which he described as legislation concerning the alleged ‘automatic dismissal’ of ministers, chief ministers and the Prime Minister under certain circumstances. He said the JPC report on the bill was expected during the Monsoon Session but has now been deferred until the next session.

Ramesh described the FCRA Amendment Bill as the Congress’s fourth achievement. He said the government had been preparing to introduce the bill during the current session but, following pressure from opposition parties, civil society organisations and leaders from several states, it was referred to a JPC. He said the Congress had demanded complete withdrawal of the legislation, but maintained that sending it to a JPC was nevertheless a positive development.

He said the opposition’s fifth achievement was that the government failed to secure the two-thirds majority required in the Lok Sabha. According to Ramesh, the government had been attempting to mobilise the necessary two-thirds support to pass a Constitution Amendment Bill related to delimitation but was unable to do so.

Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi also accused the government of avoiding debates in Parliament. He said he had never before seen a government appear so “afraid and apprehensive” during a parliamentary session. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah remained largely absent from the proceedings of the House.

Gogoi said the opposition had prepared to raise several issues during the session, including the NEET paper leak, matters related to offerings at the Ram temple, ethanol blending in petrol, foreign policy, the border dispute with China and allegations of corruption.

He said the issue of the students’ protest was discussed, but the Prime Minister and Home Minister did not attend the House. According to Gogoi, the Home Minister sought a discussion during the final days of the session, whereas the opposition had been demanding a discussion and response from the government on the students’ concerns from the outset.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar