To Sonia Gandhi's Letter To PM, A Rebuttal From Parliament Minister

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has responded to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's allegation that "parties were never consulted" by the government before it called a parliament session.

Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's nine-point letter on the special session of parliament has drawn a sharp response from the government. Mrs Gandhi is perhaps "not aware of traditions," wrote Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, asserting that the government discusses the agenda with the Opposition only after the session begins.

Mrs Gandhi had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today, amid a political uproar over the buzz on a change of the country's name to Bharat.

Underscoring that no agenda has been announced for the special session of parliament starting September 18, she listed nine subjects and demanded discussion on them.