“New transparency of India”: Manoj Jha questions govt over keeping agenda of Parliament’s special session under wraps

Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha on Thursday took a swipe at the ruling BJP-led coalition at the Centre and asked them to spell out the agenda for the five-day Special Session of Parliament.
Speaking to ANI, the RJD leader said that nobody except Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah knows the agenda of the session starting from September 18 and said that ‘this is the new transperancy’. 
“It’s not a common session, it’s a special session. Before this, every time a special session was called people had an idea why this special session was called?… This is the new transparency of India. Now only two people know PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and no one knows why this special session has been called…” he said.
The Centre has called for a special session of Parliament for five days between September 18 and 22.
Since the announcement for the special session, the INDIA alliance has been questioning the Modi government for keeping the agenda of the special session of Parliament as a ‘secret’ and expressed disappointment that the Opposition has not been consulted even once.
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, in a letter to the PM has sought to corner the Central government over the decision to call a special session of Parliament without spelling out the agenda at a time numerous issues — from the humanitarian crisis in Manipur to Chinese intrusions, the Adani allegations and soaring prices.
She flagged the issue, saying that the session is being held without any consultation with other political parties and none of them have any idea on the agenda for the session.
“You have convened a special five-day session of the Parliament beginning 18 September 2023. I must point out that this Special Session has been convened without any consultation with other political parties. None of us have any idea of its agenda,” she said in her letter.
“All we have been communicated is that all five days have been allocated for Government Business. We most certainly want to participate in the Special Session because it will give us an opportunity to raise matters of public concern and importance,” Sonia Gandhi said.
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister M TS Singh Deo has also sought the agenda ahead of the session.
“The agenda of the special session of the Parliament should be told…If a special session is called it is for a special reason and that should be stated…,” he said on Thursday.
However, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the Opposition is unnecessarily politicising the issue, adding that it will inform the public what is going to happen during the session.
“It is deeply unfortunate that you are politicising the work of our Parliament and when there is no controversy, you are unnecessarily raking it up” he said.