Cong plans protest on Manmohan issue Cong snatches 4 zila parishad seats from BJP in Rajasthan

PM’s apology ruled out; Cong-BJP spar over Rahul’s comments on Modi and Gujarat poll outcome

The Congress is set to protest the “insult” to former prime minister Manmohan Singh when Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the Lok Sabha on Wednesday and the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Senior government sources, however, ruled out an apology from the PM on the issue.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, also the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, might make a statement that could meet the Congress’ demand halfway. But Jaitley might also remind the Opposition party how several of its members have, over the years, called Modi names.

Wednesday is when in the Lok Sabha the question hour is reserved for questions on departments and portfolios under the PM, while the Rajya Sabha takes these questions on Thursday. Government sources were hopeful that Parliament would continue to transact business after both Houses functioned on Tuesday.

During the Gujarat election campaign, the PM had alleged a “conspiracy by Pakistan” to influence the state polls. He had also claimed the former PM, several former diplomats, former vicepresident Close on the heels of an improved performance in Gujarat, the Congress on Tuesday won all the four zila parishad seats and also 16 of the 27 panchayat samiti seats and six nagar palika seats, for which bypolls were held. The ruling BJP had to remain content with 10 panchayat samiti seats although it won seven nagar palika wards. The saffron party could not even retain even a single of the four zila parishad seats that it held, according to the State Election Commission.The bypolls for 27 panchayat samitis of 19 districts, 14 nagar palikas of 12 districts and four zila parishads were held on December 17. M Hamid Ansari and a former Army chief were part of a dinner hosted by now-suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar where this was discussed.

On Tuesday, as the Congress demanded that the PM come to the House to apologise for his comments, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu urged the government and the Opposition to talk to each other. “My operation (of the House) depends on your cooperation,” Naidu said.

Later, Jaitley and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar met the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Anand Sharma. Briefing the media, Sharma said a formulation has been suggested by the Congress that the two ministers would take to the PM.

Naidu said the former PM met him and conveyed his dismay at the comments made by Modi. Sharma said the PM, instead of expressing regret, repeated these comments during his victory speech at the BJP headquarters after the results of the Assembly polls were announced on Monday.

The Gujarat poll led to a war of words between Congress President Rahul Gandhi and the BJP. Speaking to journalists, Rahul Gandhi termed the Gujarat election results a “massive jolt” to the BJP. Senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar retorted that it was the Congress chief’s “dynastic arrogance” talking and he was deluding himself by “enjoying defeat as victory”.