Opposition Walkout Over NCPI Invite: Rijiju Questions Protest, Defends Government Action

NEW DELHI: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday defended the government's decision to invite the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) to the all-party meeting ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, questioning the opposition's protest and asserting that the party's request for recognition could not be ignored.

Several opposition parties staged a symbolic walkout from the meeting, protesting the invitation extended to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs who have formed the NCPI. The opposition leaders later rejoined the meeting, stating that the walkout was meant to register their protest.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Rijiju said the government had acted according to parliamentary norms. 'NCPI requested recognition from the Lok Sabha Speaker. How can you ignore it?' he asked, responding to questions about the opposition's protest.

Rijiju also defended the government's decision to invite the NCPI to the meeting. 'It is the government's duty to invite everyone,' he said. The minister listed eight bills for the Monsoon Session, beginning Monday, and added that any additional legislative business would be taken up in accordance with parliamentary norms.

Appealing for cooperation, Rijiju stated that every political party has the right to express its views in a parliamentary democracy. 'All parties have the right to speak in a parliamentary democracy. I urge them to give their positive support to the bills,' he said.

Rijiju said the government had listened to the views and suggestions put forward by different parties during the meeting. 'All parties should work together for the nation. We have heard their views and noted their suggestions. It is natural for different opinions to emerge in an all-party meeting. In a parliamentary democracy, every party has the complete freedom to express its views, and we have listened to them,' he said.

Commenting on the opposition's protest, the minister described it as a symbolic gesture. 'I believe all opposition parties will act sensibly and allow the proceedings to run properly. It should not be viewed as a boycott of the entire day's proceedings; it was symbolic,' he said. 'We discuss matters based on the numerical strength of political parties, but we certainly cannot deprive anyone of their rights,' he added.

The symbolic walkout was led by several opposition parties after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla approved separate seating for the 20 rebel TMC MPs who have formed the NCPI. TMC MP Mahua Moitra questioned the move, arguing that the Speaker had not approved the merger of the rebel MPs and that disqualification petitions against them were still pending. Senior TMC leader Saugata Roy also objected to the invitation, while NCPI leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay defended his party's participation, saying it had attended the meeting after receiving an official invitation from the government.

Rijiju on Saturday had invited rebel TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay and 19 other Lok Sabha MPs, who have joined the NCPI, to attend the customary all-party meeting ahead of the Monsoon Session, while also recognising Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar as the party's chief whip for the purpose of the meeting.