Govt mulls 5-day Winter Session, Cong cries foul

The government is planning a five-day Winter Session soon after votes are cast for the Gujarat Assembly election in December, prompting the Congress to accuse the BJP of running away from Parliament.

Parliament sources said they have been sounded out about a short Winter Session lasting about five to seven days immediately after the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections on December 14.

However, the Congress cried foul over the delay in convening Parliament, accusing the BJP of "running scared" from the "temple of democracy" to escape being questioned on demonetisation, GST, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir or the Doklam issue with China.

"Are they scared of being hauled over the coals of truth that even the temple of democracy is not being convened by this government," asked Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.

The Winter Session usually begins in the third week of November and continues till the Christmas eve. However, since the presentation of the Budget was advanced by a month from this year, there was a view about scrapping the session altogether. The Budget Session had begun on January 30 and the government was planning a repeat next year.

"Today, it is the 13th of November and there is no sign of the Winter Session which has been our tradition. We demand that the session be convened immediately. Let not any Assembly election in one state or the other become an excuse for the government to run away from facing Parliament," Tewari said.