Jammu And Kashmir, Economy, Pollution Set Parliament Flashpoint

The Winter Session of Parliament began on a stormy note on Monday with the Opposition seeking to corner the treasury benches on a raft of issues ranging from Kashmir to the state of the economy, as the government held out assurances that it was open to discussing all issues. The Rajya Sabha started its landmark 250th session with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalling the Upper House’s role in passing bills that revoked J&K’s special status and cautioning against obstructionism.

“The Rajya Sabha is about checks and balances. This is absolutely essential for our democracy. Debates have to be many and effective. But, there is also a difference between checking and clogging [and between] balance and blocking,” he said. Both Houses paid tribute to former Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj. Speaking before the opening of the Parliament session, PM Modi hoped the session, which will run until December 13, will be productive.

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