Cong leaders chalk out floor strategy
At a time when the ruling BJP wants it to be “constructive Opposition”, and anti- BJP parties are eyeing to be “fiery Opposition” ahead of the Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa Assembly polls, top leaders of the main Opposition, Congress, met on Saturday to discuss the party’s strategy at chief Sonia Gandhi’s residence.
Though the Congress is expected to open its card only on Monday, its line could become clear in the meeting of floor leaders called by the Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan here on Sunday evening for smooth functioning of Parliament.
The government managers, who have been trying to isolate the Congress on the GST Bill in Parliament, are in touch with the Congress’ floor leaders for support. But the Sonia Gandhi- led party may not be co- operative if the government creates problems in Arunachal Pradesh after the election of Pema Khandu as the CLP leader who staked claim to power on the basis of support of 45 party MLAs along with two Independents on Saturday.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, party’s deputy leader in Upper House Anand Sharma and Chief Whip in Sabha Jyotiraditya Scindia attended the meeting held at 10 Janpath here.
Recently, a senior Congress leader did not rule out the possibility of bringing a censure motion against the Modi government during the Monsoon Session. While the AAP, Left, the BSP and the JD( U) are expected to be aggressive in Parliament, the Trinamul Congress too does not want to be too friendly fearing that this would send out a wrong message to its political constituency in West Bengal.
While the Congress will be raising issues regarding Lok law and order situation in Kashmir Valley, relations with Pakistan and China, failure at the NSG, Pathankot attack, attempts to destablise the Opposition- led governments and growing unemployment, its frontal organisations have decided to “gherao” Parliament on July 20 to register its protest over the issue of “persistent” rise in prices of essential commodities.
Activists of Indian Youth Congress, National Students Union of India, Seva Dal and Mahaila Congress are planning show off their strength through a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Monday.