Congress to challenge BJP over jobs, agriculture

New Delhi: The Congress is all set to take on the NDA government over issues of unemployment and agrarian stress in its upcoming plenary on March 16, 17 and 18. A separate resolution will be passed on the issues related to agriculture, employment and poverty alleviation. During the last plenary sessions in 2010 and 2013, agrarian and employment issues were part of the economic resolution.

The Congress has also formed a nine-member sub-group on “agriculture, employment and poverty alleviation” under the chairmanship of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Former Lok Sabha MP and party leader Ms Meenakshi Natarajan is the convener of the sub-group.

In 2001 also, the Congress had passed such a resolution in its plenary. Sensing agrarian stress, the party wants to harp on this fact in its plenary. This will be the first plenary to be held under the presidentship of Mr Rahul Gandhi.

A senior insider said, “Farmers are distressed currently. Given that the agrarian crisis has deepened, it warrants passage of a separate resolution that will guide the party’s future activities on this line.” He also added that the UPA government sensing agrarian stress had given a complete farm loan waiver in 2008.

In the last several Assembly elections, the Congress has laid stress on the condition of the economy. The party feels that faulty implementation of GST and demonetisation has seriously dented the economy and led to unemployment in several sectors. Congress will also constitute a new working committee. It is planning to reach out to the youth to highlight the problems of unemployment.

In the upcoming second part of the Budget session of Parliament, the Congress will raise the issues of unemployment and agrarian crisis.