Oppn set to corner govt on Valley, China conflict
The Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning from Monday is expected to be stormy with the Opposition all set to corner the government over a range of issues concerning national security, foreign policy and other domestic matters while the ruling alliance is gearing up to counter the onslaught on it.
Eighteen Opposition parties, which have joined hands to put up candidates in the presidential and vice-presidential elections against the ruling National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) nominees, are expected to raise the military stand-off with China, though in a restrained manner, the law and order situation in Kashmir in the wake of the recent terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims and incidents of lynching over beef controversy and farmer suicides.
The stand-off between India and China in the Doklam plateau in the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan, is now a month old, with no end to it yet in sight.
In an attempt to convince Opposition on the stand-off with China, the government on Friday and Saturday briefed their leaders and assured them the issue will be resolved diplomatically. The Opposition parties are expected to raise questions, though they may not be very aggressive .
“Every issue that affects national security and national interest is a matter of concern for each one of the 125 crore Indians. As a responsible and principled Opposition party, we shall be raising all these issues and many more,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told news agency IANS.
To counter the Opposition’s onslaught, the government is also gearing up.
The BJP Parliamentary Party Executive will meet on the eve of beginning of the monsoon session that will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will also address NDA members of Parliament.
Sources in the BJP said that the government will try to pass a dozen bills during the session, including the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill Whistle blowers’ Protection Bill and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.