Sonia Gandhi has sought to corner Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the decision to call a special session of Parliament without spelling out the agenda at a time numerous issues — from the humanitarian crisis in Manipur to Chinese intrusions, the Adani allegations and soaring prices — are confronting the country.

While many believe that Modi had attempted to spring a surprise on the united Opposition through the announcement of the special Parliament session when they were meeting in Mumbai to concretise the strategy to counter his government, triggering a torrent of speculation about the possible agenda, Sonia’s intervention was aimed at showing him the mirror by listing his failures and the real concerns that should have dominated parliamentary proceedings.

Writing a letter to the Prime Minister in her capacity as the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Sonia said: “I must point out that this special session has been convened without any consultation with other political parties. None of us have any idea of its agenda. All we have been communicated is that all five days have been allocated for government business.”

Arguing that the session would give the Opposition the opportunity to raise matters of public concern, she said: “I earnestly hope that time will be allocated under the appropriate rules for a discussion and debate on these issues.”

The issues the Congress leader listed include the economic situation with focus on price rise, unemployment, growing inequalities and distress of small and medium enterprises, commitment given to the farmers on minimum support price (MSP) and the pending demand for a joint parliamentary committee to investigate the transactions of the Adani group “in the light of all revelations”.

The other issues are: “The continued agony faced by people of Manipur and breakdown of constitutional machinery and social harmony in the state; Rise in communal tension in different states like Haryana; Continued occupation of Indian territory by China and challenges to our sovereignty on the borders in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh; Urgent need for a caste census; damage being inflicted on Centre-state relations; and the impact of natural disasters caused by extreme floods in some states and drought in others.”

Sonia and the Opposition parties nurture no illusions. They believe that none of these issues will be allowed to be debated but they have tried to point out to the nation that such vital matters were not discussed in Parliament while a special session has been called for a mysterious agenda. The INDIA parties want the people to realise what purpose Parliament is being used for.

Addressing a public rally in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said: “When Parliament is in session, the Prime Minister keeps touring outside Delhi, addressing election rallies in states. He didn’t enter Parliament even for a day when Manipur was burning. Women were paraded naked, killed. He opened his mouth on Manipur after months, clubbing Rajasthan and other states with it.”

The statement is being seen as a subtle hint at Modi’s commitment to Parliament and a question about the need for a special session.

Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh said: “Whenever a special session is called, the agenda is decided first after consulting all the parties. This is the first time when nobody knows about the purpose of the session. This is extremely unfortunate. Without any consultation, leave aside consensus, the tank is bombarding unilaterally. To keep the agenda of Parliament a secret is ektantra ka tope chalana (bombarding with the tank of autocracy). This is not the music of democracy.”

Ramesh added: “The Prime Minister has panicked. He is in panic mode. The Prime Minister is not only fatigued, but he is also in panic mode and all his actions, his revival of a dead NDA when our Bangalore meeting was going on, his response to the formation of the INDIA group, then his unilateral decision to call this five-day session — these are all symbols of a panic-stricken administration. So, not only is it fatigue, it is a case after nine years of maximum fatigue, maximum panic, that is what the Prime Minister’s approach is.”