As Parliament prepares for the Monsoon session tomorrow, the Congress today finalised its strategy to take on the Narendra Modi-led government by identifying a number of political, economic and governance issues it will be taking up aggressively in both Houses.
At a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group chaired by Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, senior party leaders discussed issues ranging from inflation and foreign policy to alleged irregularities in the education system and the Ram Temple donation controversy in Ayodhya.
The meeting was held at Sonia Gandhi's house and was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and other senior leaders. During the nearly 90-minute meeting, the party's roadmap for the Monsoon session which will begin on July 20 and last for the next two weeks was also discussed.
Congress Targets Government on multiple issues
According to the party, several critical issues affecting the public will be raised during the session. These include rising prices, alleged failures in foreign policy, paper leak controversies, environmental concerns, and what Congress called the “systemic corrosion” of India’s education system.
The party will also target the Centre for alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, corruption, unemployment and the rights of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and minorities.
Mallikarjun Kharge said Congress would hold the government accountable for paper leaks, inflation, institutional capture, political defections, corruption allegations, ethanol blending, deforestation and foreign policy decisions in the meeting on X.
Opposition to Key Bills
Congress leaders also discussed several Bills that are expected to be introduced during the Monsoon Session.
The Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party has not yet received the official list of Bills which is expected to be shared when all party members of the all-party meeting are to meet on July 19.
But the Congress has already decided to oppose some proposed legislations, including the Delimitation Bill, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, and a possible amendment to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
Ramesh also said the party would oppose any amendments to the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Congress Reiterates Stand on Women's Reservation
On women's reservation, the Congress reiterated that it fully supports the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act based on the existing strength of 543 Lok Sabha seats.
The party accused the BJP-backed government of linking women’s reservation to the delimitation process, and said it would strongly oppose such a move.
"The opposition was united against it earlier and will continue to be so," Ramesh said.
Discussion on One Nation, One Election
The Parliamentary Strategy Group also discussed the proposed 'One Nation, One Election' initiative.
Ramesh said that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the proposal has been asked to submit its report by August 10 and Congress would continue to oppose the proposal in parliament.
Monsoon Session Set for Heated Debate
With Parliament to reconvene on July 20, the Congress will be at the forefront of its attack against the government over inflation, education, alleged corruption, fuel policies, environmental issues and legislative proposals.
The Monsoon Session is likely to see a lot of heated debates in the upcoming Monsoon session in which both the ruling NDA and opposition are preparing for major political battles ahead of the coming months as both sides are likely to have to fight for votes in the upcoming legislative battles.
