Rahul Muslim jibe and lynching to rock House

BJP, Opposition look to set tone for key state polls

The row over Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's reported statement that his party is for Muslims is set to cast its shadow over Parliament’s Monsoon Session as both the BJP and the Opposition look to set the tone for some key state polls before the next Lok Sabha elections in less than 10 months.

If the BJP would like to push the issue into political centre stage, opposition parties, which are seen to be closing ranks to take on the ruling NDA, would target the government over its alleged failures on economic front, nationwide cases of lynching, political crisis in Kashmir and price rise. Many believe that the upcoming session may turn out to be as tumultuous as the preceding Budget Session, which was a virtual washout with key legislations, including the Finance Bill, passed without any debate due.

The BJP has seized on Gandhi’s remarks allegedly made in a meeting with Muslim intellectuals to accuse the Congress of “Muslim appeasement”, even as the opposition party has denied that he ever made these comments and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of pursuing divisive agenda to win elections after his governance “failure”.

The government is keen to push legislations like triple talaq bill and also the OBC bill. Dalit issues are also likely to be raised in the session.

Andhra Pradesh parties, the Telugu Desam and the YSR Congress, are likely to push for noconfidence motions against the government for denying the state special category status. — PTI