Cong to be tough in Monsoon session

The Congress on Sunday set the tone for its belligerent stand against the Modi government in the Monsoon session of Parliament, which starts from Tuesday.

In a message to the government, the Congress said it would be difficult for the BJP-led coalition to ensure smooth running of the upcoming session if Union minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan did not step down within 24 hours.

“It is not in the hands of the Opposition to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament. It is the job of the government. They have to decide whether they want to run Parliament smoothly and pass bills. We and the people of the country are hopeful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce the resignation of the ministers when he comes to Parliament,” Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters.

The resignations would also give the BJP an opportunity to improve its image, he added.
“This is the first time in Indian history that witnesses are being killed, be it the Vyapam case in Madhya Pradesh or the case of Asaram Bapu. It is also perhaps the first time in the history of Independent India that a (Union) minister and (two) chief ministers are facing serious allegations but not stepping down,” said Azad.

 
The Congress leader also said it was not even considering taking action against its “tainted” ministers, while ministers either resigned on their own or were asked to step down by the Congress leadership even over “petty issues” following demands from the BJP during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime. “This is a government with thick skin. Responding to the opposition’s demand, the Union home minister (Rajnath Singh) says it’s not a UPA government, its an NDA government. This means the NDA has no regard for the people's feeling, no respect for democracy. They don’t care for anything,” said Azad.

Azad indicated that other Opposition parties would also come on a common platform with the Congress to demand the resignation Sushma, Raje, and Chouhan from Day One of the Monsoon session.

“They feel the same way we do. I am sure you (the media) will come to know about it (other Opposition parties' stand) in a day or two,” he said. During the session, the Congress will also press for the resignation of HRD Minister Smriti Irani, raising the issue of discrepancy in her qualification as a Delhi court recently took cognizance of a complain case in this regard.
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