Congress advises government: Take opposition into confidence

The main Opposition Congress on Tuesday advised the government to work with a “give-and-take” spirit as mere numbers do not ensure smooth functioning of Parliament. If the government wants a fruitful session then it has to approach the Opposition parties, take them into confidence, it suggested.

Government managers have been either ignoring the Opposition or ridiculing it after the BJP’s victory in the Lok Sabha elections held in 2014. However, this strategy is proving counter-productive as far as passage of key bills is concerned. Moreover, it has united the Opposition inside and outside Parliament as seen in the Bihar Assembly elections.

The BJP-led NDA has been lacking a majority in the Rajya Sabha. The government bills could be blocked in the Upper House if the managers do not correct their strategy.

Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said: “We are ready to cooperate... but the government should also take the Opposition into confidence.” He suggested that cooperation cannot be a one-way affair.

Earlier, the Congress was in favour of the GST bill but the government managers spoiled the spirit by their arrogance and provocative statements, he said.

The previous Monsoon Session of Parliament was washed out mainly because of the floor managers who had relied on numbers, undermining importance of management.

Mr Kharge said the Congress would approach the rest of the Opposition for floor coordination on the issues of the people. He also said the Opposition expects full cooperation from the Lok Sabha Speaker. The Congress would press for discussion on growing intolerance, attacks on dalits, sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities and drought in different parts of the country. Mr Kharge said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should make a statement on his foreign visits and assurances of investment in India.