New Delhi, July 21: In a recent all-party meeting ahead of the upcoming budget session, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted a significant shift in the political landscape regarding special category status for states. Giving an inside scoop of the all-party meeting that is underway in New Delhi on Sunday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, wrote, "In today's all-party meeting of floor leaders chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the JD(U) leader demanded special category status of Bihar. The YSRCP leader demanded special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Strangely, the TDP leader kept quiet on the matter".

Ramesh also pointed out a remarkable moment when the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader reminded Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) President JP Nadda of the BJP's 2014 election manifesto, which had promised special category status to Odisha. "How the political climate has changed! In the all-party meeting of floor leaders, the BJD leader reminded the Defence Minister and BJP President JP Nadda that the BJP's manifesto for the 2014 assembly elections in Odisha had promised special category status to the state," Jairam Ramesh stated in a post on X. Parliament Budget Session 2024: Stormy Lok Sabha Session Expected As Discussion on ‘White Paper’ To Begin Today.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari highlighted several key issues that the opposition will address in the upcoming meeting, including unemployment, the situation in Manipur, IAS concerns, and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) exam controversy. "Traditionally, an all-party meeting is held to raise issues related to the proceedings of the House. We want to discuss topics such as inflation, unemployment, paper leaks, security issues related to China, the removal of statues in Parliament, and the concerns of farmers and labourers. Additionally, we will make a concerted effort to discuss the issue of NEET," Tiwari said in an interview with ANI.

According to sources, during the all-party meeting, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi brought up issues related to NEET, the alleged misuse of central agencies like the ED and CBI, and the Deputy Speaker post. Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav addressed the issue of nameplates on food shops along the Kanwar route in Uttar Pradesh. Congress Parliamentary Party Meeting Chaired by Sonia Gandhi To Be Held on July 22 for Upcoming Budget Session, Say Sources.

CPI-M MP John Brittas emphasised that the parties are urging for discussions on issues affecting the public, including the situation in Manipur, conditions in Jammu and Kashmir, "communal polarisation" in UP, exam frauds, and unemployment. "Parliament should function properly with active debate and discussion, which has been lacking for the past decade. We want the government to grasp the ground reality. The unemployment rate is at its peak, and people are struggling. There has been an encroachment on the powers of the states," Brittas stated.

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