The winter session of Parliament is slated to convene from December 1 to December 19, a period that has triggered a sharp response from the opposition, who have labeled it as unusually delayed and truncated. The three-week session will only have 15 sittings and is expected to be contentious, especially as it coincides with the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and union territories, an exercise that has already drawn objections from several opposition parties.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju addressed the criticism, stating, "As if Congress netas are interested in running Parliament! But I will never get tired of repeatedly appealing Congress to participate in Parliament debates and discussions and also not to create obstacles for other sincere MPs".
The Congress party has criticized the announcement, suggesting that the Modi government is attempting to avoid debates on critical issues raised by the opposition and that the government lacks any substantial legislative agenda. AICC spokesperson Jairam Ramesh pointed out the session's brevity, with only 15 working days within a 20-day period, questioning the government's message.
TMP MP Derek O'Brien has accused the government of "Parliament-Ophobia," characterizing it as a fear of facing parliamentary scrutiny and debate. He highlighted the "dubious record" being set by the short, 15-day winter session.
The backdrop to this political sparring includes the monsoon session, which was marked by significant disruptions from opposition parties protesting the SIR in Bihar. Concerns have been raised about the implications of these revisions and the potential disenfranchisement of voters.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been actively campaigning in Bihar, accusing Rahul Gandhi of leading a "Ghuspaithiya Bachao Yatra". Shah vowed to remove all "intruders" from Bihar within five years, questioning whether the state's chief minister should be decided by "ghuspaithiye". He also criticized Congress and Lalu Prasad Yadav for allegedly obstructing the construction of the Ram temple, contrasting their actions with PM Modi's role in its completion.
In other political developments, the BJP celebrated its victory in local body elections across Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, attributing the win to good governance and increasing public trust. Sanjay Mayukh, the party's national media co-incharge, stated that the results reflect the growing trust in the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
Amidst these political maneuvers, questions surrounding higher education funding in Scotland have surfaced, highlighting the financial challenges faced by universities. Unlike the rest of the UK, Scottish students benefit from state-funded tuition, but the funding model falls short of covering the actual costs, leading to a reliance on foreign students and raising concerns about sustainability. Ben Macperson, the minister responsible for higher education, affirmed the government's commitment to state-funded tuition and emphasized the importance of collaborative decision-making for the benefit of Scotland.
Internationally, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney's minority government has survived two confidence votes on its budget, averting a potential winter election. The Liberal government's budget includes significant spending to address economic challenges, with the deficit projected to reach C$78.3bn in 2025-26.
