Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday defended the Centre’s decision to invite Trinamool Congress (TMC) rebel leaders to the all-party meeting held ahead of the 2026 monsoon session of Parliament.
Parliament’s seasonal session will begin on Monday and conclude on August 13.
“It is the government’s duty to invite everyone,” Rijiju said. He added, “The National Party requested recognition from the head of the Transitional Military Council, so how can you ignore him?” he added, while speaking about the opposition’s protests against the Transitional Military Council’s call.
Read also | ‘Injustice has been done’: Opposition stages symbolic walkout from all-party meeting over call for rebel TMC MPs
“We have appealed to everyone to work together for the country. Many political parties have put forward their views. We have listened to them and taken note of them. Many suggestions have been made, and we have also noted them. It is normal for different views to emerge in an all-party meeting. In a parliamentary democracy, every party has complete freedom to express its views, and we have listened to them,” the minister said.
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What happened in the comprehensive meeting?
The all-party meeting held by the government ahead of the monsoon session on Sunday saw the opposition parties staging a symbolic walkout over the call of the rebellious TMC MPs.
There was also reportedly a request for a discussion on the issues of NEET paper leakage, Ram temple donation ‘theft’, and E20 fuel. But opposition representatives quickly returned to the meeting.
Meanwhile, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said that the entire opposition, including the Congress Party, Samajwadi Party, DMK, JMM, Aam Aadmi Party, National Conference, Left parties and Shiv Sena (UBT), walked out of the meeting.
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After the symbolic walkout, Moitra said: “Today, the entire opposition, all parties including Indian National Congress, Samajwadi Party, KDP, JMM, Aam Aadmi Party, National Conference, Left parties and Shiv Sena UPT have withdrawn from the all-party meeting in protest that the so-called National Citizens Party of India, is an unrecognized party. However, they have been given separate status despite the official list from the office of The table showing the total strength of the All India Trinamool Congress is 28 members.
“The Speaker did not approve the merger of the so-called 20 rebel MPs. The 20 disqualification requests are still pending. After the 91st Amendment, there is no room for a separate bloc. So, on what basis did the Parliamentary Affairs Minister extend an invitation to these 20 rebel MPs, and how will they attend this meeting? We came out as a symbol of our protest,” she added.
