Parliament Standoff Continues Over Two Bills Amid Party Disputes

The third week of Parliament's monsoon session ended with a standoff between the government and the Opposition, focusing on two bills: the Constitution Amendment Bill regarding delimitation and women's reservation, and the FCRA Amendment Bill. The government instructed its MPs to remain present for one remaining week, while the Congress party issued a three-line whip. Conflict arose over pressure from Christian organizations on the Congress to oppose the FCRA bill. Lack of unity within the Congress hinders agreement with the government; however, sources suggest that the DMK might support the delimitation bill if certain conditions are met. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister convened an all-party meeting to exert pressure on the DMK. Efforts by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi have not resolved the deadlock, with both sides unwilling to concede.