Congress, others to move no-trust motion against government
New Delhi, July 17: The Congress party on Tuesday said it will bring a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the monsoon session of Parliament and added that it is in talks with other opposition parties on the issue.
Going a step ahead, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Tuesday submitted a notice for no-trust motion. It asked the Lok Sabha Secretary General to include the no-trust motion in the list of business on Wednesday -- the opening day of the session.
Addressing the media, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the party would raise several issues for discussion in the session such as mob lynching, woman safety, "misrule" in Jammu and Kashmir, dilution of SC/ST Act, attempts to abolish reservation in autonomous institutions and issues of farmers, unemployment and poor investments, besides special status to Andhra Pradesh.
He also criticised the government for allegedly ignoring rules in appointing heads of autonomous institutions, rising petrol and diesel prices, depreciation of rupee and "worsening" foreign policy.
"Yesterday (Monday), out of 17 opposition parties, 12 parties which were present in the opposition meeting agreed to move a vote of no-confidence against the government on these issues, apart from special status to Andhra Pradesh," Kharge told reporters.
"It will be brought after meeting and talking to all the parties. We are in talks with all opposition parties and trying to mobilise them," he added.
The senior Congress leader also accused the government of indulging in corruption during demonetisation and alleged that there was a scam in Ahmedabad District Co-operative bank accepting over Rs 750 crore -- highest among cooperative banks -- post the note ban announcement.
He also said that issues of black money and 50 per cent increase in Swiss Bank accounts will also be raised during the session.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah is the Director of the Ahmedabad District Co-operative, Kharge underlined.
A number of opposition parties had given notices for no confidence motion during the Budget session, but Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had rejected them all.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, accusing the government of not letting Parliament to function in the previous sessions (Winter and Budget), said: "It was not the Congress which was responsible for not allowing the House to function. It was the ruling party which did not have the will to allow the House to function."
"Government doesn't have the guts to face the public and the opposition because all promises they had made were falsehood," he added.
Azad said: "Government has to be very careful in its utterances. For the last few days, an atmosphere is being created across the country of dividing the nation. That is not in the interest of the country. There is a huge nexus between the ruling party and all those who are doing nasty things like lynchings all over the country."
The leader also said that EVM machines should be done away with and original system should be restored. He also raised concern over how leaders of opposition parties do not get a chance to raise various issues in Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha TV.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "Rising prices are slicing people's budget, but apathetic Prime Minister Narendra Modi is busy in dividing people.
"In the last four years, people have witnessed price rise, rampant unemployment, reduction in savings, low growth, economy in turmoil and rising cost of living," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rahul attends district development meeting, inaugurates project in Raebareli
Raebareli (UP) (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attended a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA), inaugurated a beautification project and laid the foundation stone for the construction of roads in his parliamentary constituency here in Uttar Pradesh.
On the way to Raebareli, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha paid obeisance at a Hanuman temple at Churwa and met party workers.
Soon after his arrival here, Gandhi inaugurated a beautification project undertaken by the municipal corporation in Raebareli at the Degree College intersection.
Subsequently, the Congress leader later laid the foundation stone for road-construction projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and then attended the DISHA meeting.
The meeting focused on various public welfare issues, including schemes such as MGNREGA, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and others, officials said.
Gandhi presided over the meeting with administrative officials.
A blueprint for the development of the district was prepared at the meeting and central schemes were reviewed.
This was Gandhi's first meeting with local officials since becoming an MP.
According to the Union Ministry for Rural Development, DISHAs were formed to ensure better coordination among members of Parliament, state legislatures and local governments.
Gandhi left for Lucknow after the meeting.
Later, Uttar Pradesh minister Dinesh Pratap Singh showed a poster to reporters. In the poster, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader took potshots at Gandhi for spending less time in his constituency.
"It has been more than six months, the MP (Gandhi) has not spent a night in his constituency," he said.
"In the last six months, (Gandhi spent) only five hours. Then in five years, it will be 50 hours. It means in five years, only two days?" the poster, titled "Raebareli ke Rahulji", said, requesting the Congress leader to spend a night in his constituency.
