Parliament Winter Session: Govt Prioritises Waqf Reforms, Opposition To Highlight Manipur Crisis

New Delhi : The winter session of Parliament is set to begin today, with 16 bills, including one to amend the Waqf Act, on the government’s agenda.

Five of these bills are scheduled for introduction and passage, while 11 are up for consideration and passing.

The five new bills include the Merchant Shipping Bill, Coastal Shipping Bill, Indian Ports Bill, Punjab Courts (Amendment) Bill, and the Rashtriya Sahkari Vishwavidalaya Bill.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, listed for consideration and passage, is currently being reviewed by a joint parliamentary committee, which is expected to submit its report during the winter session. Opposition members have called for an extension of the committee’s deadline.

The session will run until December 20 and will feature 19 sittings.

Constitution Day Event on November 26
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend a special event on Tuesday to mark 75 years since the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the event will take place at the historic Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, the old Parliament building, where the Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949. The Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950.

A commemorative coin and stamp will be released on the occasion, along with copies of the Constitution in Sanskrit and Maithili. Two books, “Making of the Constitution: A Glimpse” and “Making of the Constitution and its Glorious Journey”, will also be launched, along with a booklet dedicated to the Constitution’s illustrations. People across India and abroad will join President Murmu in reading the Preamble to the Constitution, Rijiju added.
All-Party Meeting
The Opposition urged a discussion on Manipur violence and solutions to end the issue at the all-party meet organised by the Centre. The government has also urged all parties to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament.

Ahead of the winter session, ruling party leaders met with floor leaders of various political parties. After the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed to all parties to cooperate for the session’s smooth running.