The main Opposition Congress is not ruling out bringing a censure motion against the government in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The main Opposition Congress is not ruling out bringing a censure motion against the government in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
While the party still has a majority in the Rajya Sabha, the role of the Samajwadi Party, BSP, Trinamul Congress and Biju Janata Dal will be interesting to watch on the floor.
Government managers are trying to corner the Congress on the GST issue but will they get support from the non-NDA parties on deteriorating situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Pathnkot attacks, NSG, price rise and growing unemployment.
This is because the Mayawati-led party cannot afford to be friendly with the Centre ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls while the Samajwadi Party could lose its support among minorities if it tries to help the BJP-led NDA directly or indirectly.
Trinamul Congress will also find it difficult to remain with the government for the simple reason that this will help the Left and the Congress to get the Opposition’s space in Parliament, sources said.
The BJD, which has been maintaining a distance from the Congress and the BJP, could face challenge from them in Orissa.
Meanwhile, claiming that the executive-judiciary relationship has been in “tatters as never before”, the Congress on Monday accused the government of hitting back at judiciary by “delaying” appointment of judges for striking down a law on judges’ appointments. “Never before in recent history has the executive-judiciary relationship been in tatters as now.
“The Congress places this blame on the Government of India. The Modi government has unleashed several... innuendos, sarcasm, open criticism of court judgements,” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
A senior advocate of the Supreme Court, Mr Singhvi deplored the attempts by the government “to obstruct judicial appointments by the back door”.
Mr Singhvi claimed that this was being done by “stealth and covert obstruction” and by “using and abusing” the memorandum of procedure to send the message that “government and not the courts have right over judicial appointments”.
“Whether you agree or disagree with National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, once the Supreme Court has come out with a judgment overruling the government, there has to be a quietus,” he said.
The most recent example of obstruction is the “supposed blocking or delay in appointment of 44 recommendees of the Allahabad high court”.
He alleged that the same story is being repeated for several other recommendees in different high courts in India.
The matter assumes serious concern, given the fact that all India high court strength is 1,100 judges, of which 400 posts are vacant.
Mr Singhvi also alleged that the decision to impose President’s Rule in Uttarkhand earlier this year was taken the by the government at the behest of local and national BJP leaders.
“BJP persisted with this in court. Ultimately, a virtue was made out of necessity by withdrawing it when no other alternative was possible,” he said.
It has been reported that certain judicial transfers have been preceded by use of unauthorised telephone tapping tactics. “If true, this is direct, serious and unprecedented assault on the independence of the judiciary,” he said.
