Congress MP and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, on Friday alleged that the Central government may not allow Parliament to function smoothly during the upcoming Monsoon Session in an attempt to avoid discussions on pressing national issues.
Speaking ahead of the session, Gogoi said the opposition was prepared to raise several matters of public importance, including unemployment, inflation, the proposed delimitation exercise, the situation in Manipur, and concerns over the health of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. He claimed that instead of facilitating debate, the government might resort to disruptions or procedural tactics to prevent meaningful discussion.
"The government may not allow Parliament to function properly because it wants to avoid answering questions on issues affecting the people," Gogoi said. He added that Parliament is meant to hold the executive accountable and that the opposition would continue to demand debates on matters that directly impact citizens.
The Congress leader said the INDIA bloc had coordinated its strategy ahead of the Monsoon Session and would jointly press for discussions on issues that, according to the opposition, require immediate attention. He maintained that Parliament should remain a platform for democratic debate rather than political confrontation.
Gogoi also criticised the Centre over its handling of recent controversies and alleged that the government was attempting to divert attention from public concerns instead of addressing them through transparent discussions in the House. He urged the ruling party to ensure that Parliament functions without unnecessary interruptions and that ministers respond to questions raised by elected representatives.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament is scheduled to begin on July 20 and is expected to witness heated exchanges between the treasury benches and the opposition. Apart from legislative business, several politically sensitive issues including delimitation, economic conditions, internal security, and governance are likely to dominate the proceedings.
The Central government has maintained that it is prepared for a productive session and has urged all political parties to cooperate in ensuring smooth functioning of Parliament. The ruling alliance has stated that it is open to discussions within parliamentary rules while seeking support for its legislative agenda.
With both the government and the opposition outlining their priorities, the Monsoon Session is expected to be one of the most closely watched parliamentary sittings of the year.
