New Delhi: Congress on Monday played the secular
card seeking to drive a wedge among opposition parties which
are trying to corner the government on price rise issue.
With 13 opposition parties, including the Left, deciding
to join hands to bring a cut motion in the Lok Sabha and BJP
hinting at doing the same separately, Congress said Left and
secular parties should introspect on joining hands with BJP.
"Those who indulge in negative politics without any
constructive suggestions will stand exposed at the bar of
public opinion. By merely destabilising a recently re-elected
secular formation, they are bound to incur the wrath of the
people of India," Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhi said.
He was reacting to a group of 13 opposition parites,
excluding BJP, deciding to wage a joint agitation on price
rise on April 27 and bring cut motion and amendment to the
Finance Bill to be moved to demand rollback of fuel and
fertiliser price rise.
Another Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said "it is
for Left and secular parties to instrospect whether secularism
is a dead issue for them specially in the context that Gujarat
Chief Minister is being investigated for his role in the worst
communal pogrom since independence and BJP, instead of
rejecting him, is embracing him all the more tightly. At this
point, Left and other secular parties are going to make a
common cause".
He said the party is ready is absolutely prepared to
face any such eventuality and there was "no cause for concern
or alarm".
"...Congress and its allies are absolutely prepared
and there is no cause for concern or alarm," was his response
when asked how will the party meet the challenge on cut
motion.
A cut motion puts to test the strength of the
government in the Lok Sabha. If the motion is adopted, it
amounts to defeat of the government on a money matter.
The second phase of the budget session is beginning on
April 15. Left parties, which are spearheading the move for
cut motion, are working towards a strategy so that the entire
Opposition, including BJP, could vote on a single cut motion
in Lok Sabha.
Asked how will the government manage with a wafer thin
majority in the event of RJD and SP, which supported it from
outside, moving out of its fold during cut motion, a Congress
leader on condition of anonymity indicated the government
has a strategy.
"Whether we will remain at 276, 286 or more, all this
will be decided on the floor of the House...the cushion comes
from various sides. Things are not unidimensional. There is a
need to look at their multi-dimensions," said he.
PTI
