All-Party Meet | Cong Demands Discussion on NEET, UP Eateries, Manipur, J&K Internal Security Row

New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday during the all-party meeting demanded discussion on issues including the NEET 'scam,' the Uttar Pradesh government's order to eateries and the internal security situation in Jammu and Manipur that must be taken up during the Budget session of Parliament on July 23 in New Delhi.  

Congress Presents Host of Issues in Meet

Congress General Secretary, in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh said that in the all-party meeting of floor leaders chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress' deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi presented a host of issues on behalf of the party that should be taken up in the Parliament session beginning Monday.

Gogoi called for discussion on governance issues relating to "NEET/NET scams, UPSC controversies, worsening railway safety and Agniveer", Ramesh said.

J&K's Internal Security Situation, Manipur Row Must Be Taken Up: Cong

He said the party also flagged that the internal security situation in Jammu and Manipur should be taken up for discussion during the session.

According to Ramesh, Gogoi also asserted at the meeting that challenges on the borders with China and environmental concerns arising out of floods and natural disasters, deforestation and pollution, be discussed during the session.

The Congress also raised the issues relating to Centre-state relations and the economy, which it stated must be debated upon.

Cong Seeks Discussion on Kanwar Yatra Row

In an apparent reference to the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments' controversial directive to eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the owners' names, the party also flagged the issue of "deliberate attempts at polarisation in states like UP by passing unconstitutional orders", Ramesh, who was also present at the meeting, said in a post on X.

Special Category Status for Bihar?

Earlier, as the meeting got underway, Ramesh posted on X that in the all-party meeting, the JD(U) leader demanded special category status for Bihar.

"The YSRCP leader demanded special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Strangely, the TDP leader kept quiet on the matter," Ramesh said.

In another post, he said, "How the political climate has changed! In the all-party meeting of floor leaders, the BJD leader reminded the Defence Minister and BJP President JP Nadda that the BJP's manifesto for the 2014 assembly elections in Odisha had promised special category status to the state."

Central Hall Must Be Opened Up For MPs To Mingle: Cong

Ramesh also posted on X that there was a universal demand that the Central Hall should once again be opened up for MPs to mingle with each other and improve communications across the parties.

"The historic Central Hall has sadly fallen into disuse after the opening of the new building of Parliament," Ramesh said.

"In the all-party meeting of floor leaders chaired by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the universal demand was for the constitution of the 24 Department-Related Standing Committees and giving them their due importance. There was also a universal demand for reviving the Consultative Committees where MPs can interact with the Ministers concerned," Ramesh said in another post on X.

Later, Congress leader K Suresh told reporters that his party was joined by other INDIA bloc members in seeking the Lok Sabha deputy speaker's position for the opposition according to the convention. (with PTI inputs)