Cong readies to corner BJP over Lalit Modi

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday said, “Other opposition parties should prove they are not compromising with their principles or integrity and join the Congress’ campaign.”

Sources in the Congress indicated that they would take up the Lalit Modi issue aggressively, and would not allow Rajya Sabha to function unless the Prime Minister makes a statement on 

the issue. 

Even though they might come on board for the GST proposal, there is no chance of softening their stance on the Land Bill, sources said. The Congress has been consistent in calling the new Land Bill - ‘anti-farmer’.

Speaking to Millennium Post, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, “We expect all like-minded parties who are opposed to corrupt practices, to join us.”

“We are acting on principle and on our lone declared opposition to such omissions by two of the BJP Union Cabinet ministers-Sushma Swaraj and Smriti Irani, one state Chief Minister - Vasundhara Raje and one state minister Pankaja Munde. There has been eloquent silence in last two months from the Prime Minister. We are bound to raise this issue in Parliament and if there is no response forthcoming, how does the government expect the Parliament to function. So, the government is responsible for the functioning of the Parliament”, he added.

Despite the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley earlier brushing aside the possibility of disruption in Parliament over this controversy, the expected stand-off with the Congress over Swaraj and Raje’s removal would raise temperatures in both Houses. 

The government which lacks numbers in Rajya Sabha will need to garner votes from Opposition to ensure the passage of Goods and Sales Tax reform (GST) and the new Land Bill. Without the Opposition’s support in the Upper <g data-gr-id="34">House</g> the fate of these bills appears doomed.

Congress leader RPN Singh said, “We will definitely reach out to political parties who have promised to fight against corruption. It is shocking that the Prime Minister has not even uttered a word on corruption. The Congress will raise this issue in the Parliament and will ask like-minded parties - who have a similar fight against corruption - to come on board with us.”