Congress may not back attempts to impeach CJI

The Congress is unlikely to support the CPM initiative to move an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra in Parliament but press for a discussion on the crisis in judiciary during the Budget Session beginning Monday.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi met senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge, Anand Sharma, K C Venugopal among others on Thursday evening to discuss the party's strategy for the Budget Session.

A senior Congress leader said the party was not inclined to join the CPM in its efforts to move an impeachment motion against the CJI.

The first part of the Budget Session of Parliament will be a brief affair beginning with the address of President Ram Nath Kovind to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the last full budget of the Modi government on February 1.

The first part of the Budget Session will conclude on February 9 after which Parliament will break for recess to examine the ministry-wise proposals made by the finance minister in the Union Budget.

Aware that the first part of the Budget Session will be spent on discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President and passage of the Union Budget, the Congress has decided to focus on limited issues - crisis in judiciary, increase in petroleum prices and the decision to issue orange passports for non-matriculate workers.

Rahul had attacked Modi government over its decision that passport holders requiring emigration check would be given an orange-coloured passport saying it showed the BJP's "discriminatory mindset".

Party leaders will utilise the opportunities in the discussion on Motion of Thanks and the Budget to raise issues such as concerns over the state of the economy, the Padmavat controversy and foreign policy.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar has convened a meeting of leaders of political parties in Parliament on Sunday. Rahul Gandhi is expected to convene party leaders once again next week to fine-tune the Parliament strategy.