Modi govt should spell out agenda of special Parliament session, demands INDIA bloc
New Delhi/IBNS: The Opposition INDIA bloc Tuesday demanded that the Centre should spell out the agenda of the special session of the Parliament and accused it of keeping the country in the dark after two back-to-back meetings following the buzz about the change of the country's name from "India" to "Bharat".
"Modi Govt is convening a special session of the Parliament for the first time without spelling out the agenda. No one from any opposition party has been consulted or informed. This is not the way to run a Democracy," Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge posted on X, formerly Twitter.
His post came after a Congress internal meeting first at Sonia Gandhi's residence followed by another of INDIA bloc leaders at Kharge's home
"Everyday, Modi Govt plants a story in the media of a prospective 'agenda', thereby creating a smokescreen of diversion from real issues burdening the people... The BJP wants to keep key issues like Price Rise, Unemployment, Manipur, China's transgressions, CAG Reports, Scams and Weakening of Institutions etc. aside and cheat our people," Kharge said.
Modi Govt is convening a special session of the Parliament for the first time without spelling out the agenda.
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) September 5, 2023
No one from any opposition party has been consulted or informed.
This is not the way to run a Democracy.
Everyday, Modi Govt plants a story in the media of a… pic.twitter.com/hL8U0UpcCW
Earlier addressing a press conference, Congress's Gaurav Gogoi said, "BJP itself is not able to tell what is the agenda of the session. The BJP has kept the country in the dark on this. This government is not transparent and responsible towards the country."
The buzz exploded this morning with the news that President Droupadi Murmu's invitation to G20 leaders introduces her as the "President of Bharat" instead of the traditional "President of India".
A letter from President Droupadi Murmu starts with "The President of Bharat requests..."
This is the first time the word "Bharat" is used instead of "India" in an official invitation.
"Bharat" has also reportedly been used in a G20 booklet which has been handed over to foreign delegates. The title of the booklet has been kept "Bharat, The Mother of Democracy".
As the same comes ahead of parliament's five-day special session starting September 18 and with no agenda provided for the same by the government, speculations are rife over the rekindled debate on 'India versus Bharat'.
Many BJP leaders and celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Virender Sehwag and others, have hailed "Bharat" on social media.