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Congress to corner Modi govt in Parliament on insult to Manmohan, 2G verdict

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New Congress president Rahul Gandhi to attend the session; party plans aggressive strategy to demand government statements on a range of issues.

New Delhi: The Congress, under new president Rahul Gandhi, is expected to take an extremely aggressive stand in Parliament over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on former PM Manmohan Singh during the Gujarat election campaign, as well as on the 2G verdict, when the winter session reconvenes on 27 December. The Congress is expected to boycott proceedings and demand a statement from the government.

In a departure from the past, Rahul Gandhi is expected to forego his year-end vacation this year, with sources confirming that “so far, he is definitely in Delhi on 31 December”.

In the past, Gandhi’s vacations have often come under the scanner, even becoming an object of ridicule by his detractors, giving him the image of a “part-time politician”. This is the first Parliament session for the Congress under him, and all eyes would be on him to see how effectively he leads his party’s strategy to counter the Modi-led BJP government.

With several important state elections due next year, beginning with Karnataka, the Congress and its president would want to be seen as formidable opponents that can take on the might of the BJP. With the belligerent strategy planned, the Congress is likely to get proceedings of the House stalled whenever it can succeed in doing so.

Multi-pronged approach

According to highly-placed sources in the Congress, the party has decided on an “aggressive strategy to corner the BJP on key issues”.

“We will demand not just an apology, but a clarification from the Prime Minister himself on his statement on Dr Singh,” a source who wished to remain anonymous told ThePrint. “We demand a statement on the 2G verdict, and how the BJP has for years used this to tarnish the image of the Congress. We also want more consultation on key bills.”

Since the winter session of Parliament began, the Congress has been raising the issue of Modi’s remarks on his predecessor during the Gujarat election campaign, where he alleged Singh had colluded with Pakistan to try and defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat.

In addition, the special court’s verdict in the 2G case which acquitted all accused has given the Congress fresh ammunition to target the ruling party.

Sources say pressure would also be mounted on the government to issue statements on the Rafale deal, BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah’s business model, as well as allegations of impropriety against National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s son Shaurya Doval, who runs a think tank.

“On Rafale, we want to know why the deal was altered to benefit Reliance. On Jay Shah, the BJP has to state why there is so much secrecy in explaining his business model,” said the party source.

However, not wanting to appear to be “insensitive or disruptive”, the Congress will allow discussion on “very important issues”, like it did on the Ockhi cyclone and additional requirement of funds.

Sources also say the Congress is being extra aggressive on Modi’s remarks on Singh, since the former PM is himself “very anguished over the issue”.

“If it was anybody else, we might have even let it go as election rhetoric, but given that it is against such a respected former PM, who is himself very anguished about it, the Congress is going to take it up very, very seriously in the House,” another party leader said.

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