Cong gears up to rake up ‘snooping’ row in House
Congress is gearing up to rake up the issue of an alleged surveillance on Rahul Gandhi to stall proceedings.
The two Houses might have wrapped up last week’s proceedings with the smooth passage of important bills, but the new week is set to begin on a stormy note on Monday. The Congress is gearing up to rake up the issue of an alleged surveillance on party vice-president Rahul Gandhi to stall proceedings.
In order to prepare the ground for Monday’s action, Congress spokesman Anand Sharma said, “India cannot be allowed to be converted into a police state…We will raise the issue in Parliament.” He added: “The present government has much to answer when it comes to citizens’ right to privacy… Both Modi and Amit Shah are now here…The practice they had adopted in Gujarat, they want to carry it out everywhere now.”
Sharma had stated in a TV interview earlier that phones of senior Opposition leaders were being tapped. When asked by reporters if had any evidence to substantiate this allegation, Sharma contended that “letters are not sent for phone-tapping to political leaders, judges and others.” He argued that it can be proved only if the Prime Minister and Home Minister give letters to Opposition leaders regarding the tapping of their phones.
Though the Congress faced adverse publicity due to Rahul’s decision to go on a leave ahead of the budget session, the party believes that the latest episode would generate public sympathy for the Congress vice-president. Rejecting the police claim that it was a routine drill intended for being in touch with dignitaries, the Congress has already sought a comprehensive response from the Home Minister.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, on the other hand, said the Congress was overreacting to a “routine police procedure”.
Javadekar, according to an agency report, told reporters in Hyderabad, “I think Congress has lost the plot…They have no public issue and therefore they are raising such issues which are non-issues.”
While the Rahul issue would figure in the two Houses on Monday, the Land Acquisition Bill will be back in focus on Tuesday, with at least 10 Opposition parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, CPI, CPM, JD(U), RJD and the JD(S), planning a march from Parliament House to Rashtrapati Bhawan, where they will submit a memorandum to the President.
JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, who is co-ordinating with all participants, said in a statement Sunday that changes proposed by the government in The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 Act through a new bill were against farmers’ interests and the Opposition would oppose them tooth and nail.
Source:: Indian Express
