Congress’ mega plan to take on board all the Opposition parties to launch a campaign against the Modi Government on the demonetisation issue has hit a roadblock with several parties refusing to come under one umbrella at a function on Tuesday.
While the left parties have announced they will not be part of it, the JD(U) also has hinted that it may follow suit. Similarly, there was no confirmation from the Samajwadi Party, the BSP and the NCP.
The TMC, however, will attend the meeting along with the RJD and the DMK. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi are likely to be present along with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The Congress is striving for uniting the Opposition on the issue of Rahul’s charges of “personal corruption” against the Prime Minister. The meeting is also an attempt on the part of the Congress to bridge the gap that developed when several Opposition parties skipped the joint march to Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 16 over demonetisation issue. They were apparently annoyed over Rahul Gandhi meeting the Prime Minister earlier that day on the issue of farmers’ problems, especially in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Before leaving for Delhi, Mamata Banerjee told reporters at the Kolkata airport, “The Congress has called me for the meeting. let’s see what happens.”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh downplayed the plans of several parties skipping the Opposition meeting that will be followed by a joint Press conference. He also cited local and regional compulsions for some parties not to be together on the same platform.
“Whoever comes tomorrow will come. Those who don’t come tomorrow will come the next time. Those who will come, you will see tomorrow. The biggest issue today is demonetisation and the second issue is corruption by the Prime Minister, which will be the main issues before meeting,” said Ramesh at AICC briefing.
“We have decided to stay away from the Press conference of Opposition parties convened by the Congress because there has been no proper consultation and coordination among parties,” said CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury in Kolkata.
“Most of the parties were neither consulted nor informed about what will be the agenda of the meeting. Several Opposition parties have reservation about the way the meeting has been convened,” he added.
On being asked if the decision to stay away would not provide ammunition to the BJP camp, the veteran leader said, “When you want to take the Opposition unity of 16 parties from a Parliament-level to a political level then you need to hold consultation and discussion with the political leadership. A decision should be taken on the basis of proper consultation. That was not done, which is unfortunate.”
“Why are you only inviting Chief Minister of West Bengal and not calling CMs of Bihar, Tripura and other States which have non-BJP GovernmentsIJ” he questioned.