November 25, 2024: The winter session of the Indian Parliament commenced today, with three key bills slated for final consideration and passage. The session, which will run until December 20, 2024, includes 19 sittings over a period of 26 days, during which 16 bills are expected to be addressed.

On the first day of the session, the Lok Sabha will discuss the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill and the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024 will be deliberated upon. These legislative matters are set to dominate the proceedings in the initial days.

The session comes on the heels of the NDA's significant victories in Haryana and Maharashtra, which could provide the government with added momentum as it pushes forward its legislative agenda. However, the opposition is expected to raise contentious issues, particularly the ongoing crisis in Manipur and concerns over rising unemployment, setting the stage for heated debates.

Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made strong remarks criticizing the opposition. In his address, he accused the opposition of being "blinded by a self-centered agenda" and attempting to disrupt the functioning of Parliament for political gain. "A handful of people are constantly trying to control the Parliament through disorder and hooliganism. Their aim is only to stall the house," he said, adding that the people of India are watching and will hold the opposition accountable when the time comes.

The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the behavior of certain parliamentarians. He lamented that new parliamentarians, who bring fresh ideas and energy, are often silenced by those who do not respect democratic processes. "Some people usurp their rights and do not even allow them the opportunity to speak in the House," he said. He further criticized opposition members who, according to him, are "rejected by the people 80-90 times" but still attempt to block meaningful discussions in Parliament.

With several crucial bills up for debate, the Winter Session is poised to be a politically charged period, where the government's legislative priorities clash with the opposition's agenda. The coming weeks are likely to witness intense exchanges as both sides seek to assert their positions on national issues.