For the first time in the history of independent India, the government is conducting a five-day-long special session of Parliament from September 18 to September 22. While special sessions have been called on several occasions in the past, from 1947 to mark India바카라s independence, to the latest in 2017 when the Modi government called a midnight session to roll out the goods and services tax (GST), never have these sessions been longer than two days. In all of the special sessions held in the past, the government has made its agenda known beforehand. However, this time, the Centre has remained tightlipped, with even its top ministers doing guesswork for the schedule of the Parliament session.
Naturally, social media is abuzz with speculations and political analysts are coming up with a list of possibilities for the special session. BJP strategists are also thrilled as these discussions help them divert the attention from the Opposition alliance or issues like inflation, unemployment and the ethnic violence in Manipur.
The special session has been called just a few days after the two great successes for the government 바카라 Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing and the G-20 Summit 바카라 meaning the Centre will use it as an opportunity to highlight Prime Minister Narendra Modi바카라s image as a global leader. Meanwhile, many anticipate that behind the secretive strategy of the government could be a 바카라big ticket move바카라 바카라 something big enough to stun the nation ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year.
Here are some of the biggest speculations about the Parliament special session:
Move To New Parliament
The government is most likely to conduct the special session in the new Parliament building, people in the know have said. The talk has been floating since the Budget session that parliamentarians will be shifted to the new building. However, due to technical difficulties, the move has been delayed thus far. While the special session will begin on September 18 at the colonial-era Parliament, members will be formally moved to the new building on September 19 following a 바카라puja바카라 on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.
One Nation, One Election
One of the most heated discussions has been around the speculation that BJP will turn 바카라One Nation, One Election바카라 바카라 an idea that has been floated frequently in public gatherings and election rallies since 2014 바카라 into a reality. The idea is to hold simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and various state assemblies but it has been vehemently opposed by many parties.
바카라One Nation, One Election바카라 has also been studied by the Law Commission of India in 2018, which had three proposals for alternatives to the current system. However, for the idea to be put to test, several Articles of the Constitution will need to be amended which may prove to be difficult to get a consensus on.
India바카라s Name Change To Bharat
Another big speculation is that the BJP government may pass a resolution to change the country바카라s name from India to 바카라Bharat바카라. This built further momentum after G20 invitations read 바카라Bharat바카라 instead of India. For instance, Droupadi Murmu was referred to as 바카라President of Bharat바카라 instead of 바카라President of India바카라 in the invitation sent to G20 attendees. Part of the rationale offered by the RSS 바카라 the backbone of the country바카라s right wing 바카라 and supporters of the name change is that the Sanskrit term 바카라Bharat바카라 holds great significance in history and was in prominent usage during the anti-colonial struggles.
However, this is a debate that was closed in the Constituent Assembly in 1949, following which Article 1 of the constitution referred to the country as 바카라India, that is Bharat바카라. Reopening the debate now could stir a flurry of arguments and may not be favoured by the non-Hindu minorities who have suffered greater 바카라otherisation바카라 with the rise of Hindutva politics.
Women바카라s Reservation Bill
In the case of the women's reservation bill, the BJP has neither voiced against it 바카라 possibly to stay in line with their 바카라Nari Shakti바카라 position 바카라 nor has it broached the subject. The bill seeks that 33 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies are reserved for women. It was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in 1996 as the 81st Amendment Bill by the Deve Gowda-led United Front government but failed to get the approval of the House. While it was passed by Rajya Sabha in 2010, the bill has lapsed in the lower house so far.
However, the BJP realises the power of women voters. Just two weeks ago, the Union cabinet slashed the price of LPG cylinders giving an additional subsidy of Rs 200 to its consumers. Women have emerged as a key constituency in polls, playing a decisive role in influencing their outcomes. Moreover, in the recently concluded G20 Summit India listed women-led development as one of its six main priorities, dropping a hint of what we can expect in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, and even in the special session.
Calling The 2024 Lok Sabha Election Early
By now we are well aware that the BJP is capable of pulling off big surprises like demonetisation, GST, abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir바카라s special status etc. and with the growing debate of 바카라One Nation, One Election바카라, it is well within the saffron party바카라s capabilities to call the elections early. However, this is just a speculation.
When the question was thrown at the INDIA bloc of Opposition alliance at a press conference, party general secretary KC Venugopal said they were 바카라prepared for anything바카라. 바카라If they want an early election means they have totally panicked. After INDIA alliance formation and our three meetings, they have totally panicked,바카라 Venugopal had said.
However, a top minister was anonymously quoted in a News18 report saying the Narendra Modi cabinet had no such plans. The BJP government will 바카라complete its term바카라, the minister reportedly said.
Uniform Civil Code
The list of guesses also includes the controversial Uniform Civil Code (UCC) which has witnessed fervid protests by opposition parties and activists. The proposal which aims to replace personal laws based on religion, customs and traditions with a common law on marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance etc has been vouched at almost every public gathering event. But the Modi government is still considering. It is still weighing the pros and cons to see if the passage of UCC will be appreciated or trigger an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act-like agitation.
Giving Back J&K바카라s Its Statehood
The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was brought under the Centre바카라s rule through a non-elected Governor in 2019, when the Modi government announced the abrogation of Article 370, snatching away its special status and statehood. Since then, the now-union territory has not had elections. This cannot persist for too long and the BJP realises it.
The Supreme Court recently took up the matter while hearing petitions challenging the abrogation and the change of J&K바카라s status from state to union territory. The court asked the Centre to restore the democratic set-up over there and the Centre assured it that elections will be held soon in Kashmir. The Centre may not give back J&K its special status but it will have to give back its statehood for elections to be held. An announcement about elections could help it with some damage control before it is too late and before the Opposition makes it their agenda to undo the Centre바카라s decision in the polls next year. But this too is a speculation.
What the Modi government may actually have on the agenda for the special session is only known to one or two people at the top. However, by not announcing its agenda beforehand, the Centre has once again continued its trend of zero transparency when it comes to public affairs.
