The Congress has accused the BJP-led Union government of attempting to secure a “tainted” two-thirds majority in Parliament to revive the Delimitation Bill, saying it will oppose the legislation again if it is reintroduced during the upcoming Monsoon Session.
Speaking after a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group on Thursday, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said the party expects Union Home Minister Amit Shah to bring back the Delimitation Bill after it failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17.
He said Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, are in touch with opposition parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to build a united opposition against the proposal.
He alleged that even if the government eventually secures the required numbers, it would amount to “a disgraced one and an insult to the Constitution of India.”
The meeting was chaired by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and attended by senior leaders including Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
Congress seeks clarity on Monsoon Session agenda
Jairam said the Congress had not yet received formal information on the legislative business proposed for the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Although an all-party meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, he said the party did not expect significant outcomes, describing such meetings as a “pointless formality.”
On women’s reservation, Ramesh said the Congress would support legislation providing one-third reservation for women within the existing strength of the Lok Sabha.
“Let the government make a provision for one-third reservation for women within the current strength of the Lok Sabha and the Congress will support it,” he said.
Opposition to proposed Bills
The Congress also outlined several issues it intends to raise during the Monsoon Session.
According to Jairam, these include the reported theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, concerns over the country’s education and examination system, and the party’s continuing demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
He said Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron ki Goonj” campaign would form part of the party’s focus on education-related issues.
The Congress also alleged irregularities in what it described as the “E-20 scam” and said it would seek a debate on India’s foreign policy, particularly relations involving China, the United States and developments in West Asia.
Jairam further said the party would oppose proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill relating to the removal of Chief Ministers and Ministers after 30 days of detention, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, proposed amendments to the National Food Security Act, 2013, and the “One Nation, One Election” Bills.
He also rejected reports suggesting that the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar supported the Delimitation Bill, saying party leader Supriya Sule had denied such claims.
Jairam additionally alleged that the Union government had played a role in splits within the Trinamool Congress and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), maintaining that the ruling National Democratic Alliance remained short of the two-thirds majority required in the Lok Sabha.
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