New Delhi, July 20 -- Setting the stage for a stormy monsoon session beginning Monday, Opposition parties staged a walkout from Sunday's all-party meeting over the invitation extended to the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), before returning to press for debates on a string of politically sensitive issues - including the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the NEET controversy, Manipur, farmers' concerns and activist Sonam Wangchuk's protest - as the government appealed for a disruption-free Parliament, warning that repeated disruptions could leave legislation to be passed with limited discussion. According to several leaders present at the meeting, the government gave no indication that it intended to introduce the contentious delimitation bill during the session. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju later said any additional government business beyond the notified agenda would first be discussed with political parties. The walkout, joined by the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and other Opposition parties, briefly interrupted the customary meeting convened ahead of every Parliament session before leaders returned to discuss the government's legislative agenda and the Opposition's demand for debates on a range of national issues. The Opposition objected to the government's decision to invite the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), with which rebel TMC MPs have announced their merger, saying the move pre-empted Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's pending decision on petitions seeking the rebels' disqualification and violated parliamentary norms. Defence minister Rajnath Singh, who chaired the meeting, appealed to political parties to uphold the democratic process and ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament. Rijiju said smaller parties had sought more time to participate in debates and assured them that every party would get an opportunity to speak if proceedings were not disrupted. "If the House functions smoothly, everyone will get an opportunity to speak. If there is disruption, the opportunity to speak will be lost. The government should not later be blamed for passing bills with minimal discussion or amid chaos because we genuinely want detailed discussions and careful scrutiny before legislation is passed," he said. The monsoon session will run from July 20 to August 13. The government has so far listed eight bills for introduction or consideration, including legislation to amend the law governing foreign contributions, overhaul the country's higher education regulator and extend statutory protection to the national song Vande Mataram. Two other controversial proposals -- to establish a new higher education regulator and to automatically disqualify ministers arrested for 30 days -- have not been included in the current legislative agenda. On delimitation, Rijiju said any additional government business beyond the eight bills already notified would first be discussed in the Business Advisory Committee before being introduced. "If we decide to introduce any additional bills, we will first discuss them in the BAC and keep everyone informed," he said. Opposition parties, meanwhile, urged the government to allow discussions on what they described as pressing national issues, including the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the NEET examination controversy, Manipur, farmers' issues, ethanol blending in fuel, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, citizenship issues and Wangchuk's protest, who is demanding accountability for competitive examination paper leaks and the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said Parliament must debate what he described as major national challenges. "The eyes of the nation are upon the government to see whether it will address the issues concerning Ayodhya, ethanol, students, farmers and Manipur. If the government shies away from these matters as it has in the past, it is the government that will suffer the consequences," Gogoi said. Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav said the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was an issue linked to public faith and warranted discussion in Parliament....