Opposition to be under lens for NRC

All eyes will be on the Opposition in the Parliament on Monday on how it uses the issue of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam to corner the BJP government after the Congress has nuanced its stand by toning down its shrill rhetoric.

It is also keenly awaited whether the Congress will return to the issue of suspected corruption in Rafale in the last week of the monsoon session, which ends on Friday, amid intense discussion among the Opposition parties over holding a joint press conference on the issue.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) has indicated that it will continue to raise the NRC issue in the Parliament vociferously as they were “not happy” with the response from Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the issue as well as the police action against their leaders who visited Assam’s Silchar.

TMC leaders said that they have not accepted Singh’s reply to the discussion on the NRC issue and several issues raised by them were still not addressed.

“We will see how it evolves on Monday. We have some concerns and we will surely raise it,” a senior TMC leader said. While the Lok Sabha has seen brief adjournments over the issue, the Rajya Sabha has witnessed vociferous protests. Singh could not respond on the same day when the issue was raised first and could do it only on his third attempt.

All the Opposition parties have been coordinating on issues, the Congress Working Committee’s (CWC) Saturday meeting suggested that it should tone down the rhetoric on the NRC to counter the BJP’s charge questioning the Congress’ stand on the issue.

Opposition leaders said discussions were also held among parties on raising the pitch over Rafale jets.