Cong to attack faulty eco policies in Parliament

The Congress — the principal Opposition party on whom the smooth conduct of Parliament hinges — too is likely to tone down its earlier strident approach, which had led to repeated adjournments, bringing proceedings to a standstill. At the same time, however, the party has resolved to expose the NDA Government’s “anti-people policies”, as manifested in the Budget.

Talking to êIThe Indian ExpressêR, the party’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Madhavrao Scindia, said: “The focus in the party would be to take the Government to task over the existing burden on farmers, those below the poverty line and the middle and lower-middle classes.”

“In specific terms, the main line of attack would be: Put the Government on the mat on the hike in prices of diesel and urea and that too surreptitiously, without taking Parliament into confidence,” Scindia said.

While the “faulty” economic policies of the Government, relating to agriculture and rural employment schemes, will be main areas the Congress will highlight, it will also raise other issues such as cross-border terrorism, the visit of US President Bill Clinton and the overall security situation.

Among the business listed in the Houses, the National Housing Bank and Information Technology Bills may come up for discussion. The statehood Bills are, however, unlikely to see the light of the day. While the assemblies of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have passed resolutions seeking the creation of Uttaranchal and Chattisgarh, respectively, the Bihar House is yet to take a decision on the Vananchal Bill.

The Congress’s likelihood to tone down its earlier strident tone comes in the wake of senior leaders Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee reportedly expressing their reservations to party chief Sonia Gandhi on the manner in which the party had blocked proceedings in Parliament.

More importantly, perhaps, the party’s earlier joint strategy with the Left on key issues in Parliament is likely to be put to test after the recent developments in West Bengal, where the state unit is more than eager to cobble up an alliance with the Trinamool Congress, regardless of the latter’s tie-up with the NDA.

The Left has not taken very kindly to the state unit’s dalliance with Mamata and even threatened to expose the party’s “secular” credentials if the Congress-Trinamool-BJP alliance goes through. That is why the high command’s recent unequivocal stand that there would be no alliance with Mamata till she dumps the NDA.

Parliament will first take up the motion of thanks. It is then likely to pass the demands-for-grants for the Railways and other ministries.