PM should clarify his stand on the intolerance issue: RPN Singh
"We will raise the intolerance issue in Parliament," Congress spokesperson RPN Singh said. "We want the PM to clarify his stand on the issue," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tea meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on November 27 to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament may not help the NDA, which is set to face heat over the issue of intolerance.
While Congress member in the Lok Sabha, KC Venugopal gave notice for a debate on intolerance on Monday, party lawmaker Anand Sharma will press for a resolution over the issue in Rajya Sabha this week.
"We will raise the intolerance issue in Parliament," Congress spokesperson RPN Singh said. "We want the PM to clarify his stand on the issue," he said.
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Congress insiders said the party has built up momentum against the government over 'the situation arising out of incidents of intolerance in the country' by highlighting issues like the killing of a Muslim man in western UP over beef eating, the award wapsi by writers and artistes and the provocative speeches of some Union ministers.
While Congress members would attack the government over the intolerance issue in Lok Sabha on Monday, the grand old party is also coordinating with other parties to corner the government in Rajya Sabha, where the NDA lacks strength. Besides Congress, JD-U, CPIM, CPI and Trinamool Congress have also given separate notices for a debate on intolerance under different rules in the Rajya Sabha.
While the notice given by Congress member Anand Sharma seeks passing of a resolution over the issue, JD-U lawmaker KC Tyagi wants removal of some Union ministers over their provocative speeches. Outside Parliament, the Congress has deployed its youth wing to stage a protest over intolerance at Jantar Mantar on Monday in order to pressurise the government.
Sources said that both Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi are concerned over the issue and have asked party managers to slam the government. Following notices given by both Congress and the CPI-M, the lower house of Parliament is set to debate on November 30.
Congress member KC Venugopal and CPIM lawmaker P Karunakaran have given separate notices under rule 193. However, government managers will have no major worries as there will be no voting after the debate.
The NDA would face problems in Rajya Sabha, where several parties have given separate notices for discussion on intolerance, with or without voting.
The stage for a confrontation between the Congress and the government was set from day one of the winter session on November 26, when party chief Sonia Gandhi attacked the ruling BJP for playing divisive politics and promoting intolerance.
The NDA govt will also face tough time in Rajya Sabha over the intolerance issue.