Opposition parties plan online offensive against govt
Opposition parties also decided to meet at least once a month to coordinate their efforts to corner the government.
New Delhi: With the Monsoon Session of Parliament set to begin on Monday, Opposition parties are planning to corner the government on issues including the ill-effects of demonetisaion, GST, farmers’ suicides and mob-lynching. They plan to mount their attack on the Narendra Modi government on digital media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, apart from forums inside and outside Parliament.
The decisions were taken at the meeting of 18 Opposition parties called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to decide on their vice-presidential candidate.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the parties have also decided to meet at least once a month to chart out a course to corner the government during the Monsoon Session.
Tuesday’s meeting was attended by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Trinamul Congress leader Derek O’Brien, JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav, NCP’s Praful Patel, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Samajawadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal, BSP’s Satish Mishra as also leaders from 10 other parties.
In the 545-member Lok Sabha, the Congress has 45 members while the TMC has 34.
At the meeting, sources said, Naresh Agrawal of the Samajwadi Party suggested that the Opposition parties should have such interactions at least once a month to coordinate their positions.
Such meetings should be held not only in Delhi but also in state capitals, Mr Agrawal suggested, according to sources.
The name of Gopal Krishna Gandhi was proposed by O’Brien after Sonia Gandhi asked him to begin deliberations, and it was immediately endorsed by all present, sources said.