Cong, INLD set to take on BJP

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28

The Congress and the INLD are set to put the ruling BJP on the mat for its alleged failure on all fronts during the monsoon session beginning September 2.

The short session, which is likely to last three days, would prove to be an acid test for the BJP as the ruling party would be hard pressed to explain its position on a variety of issues.

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who held a dharna today at Naraingarh in Ambala district in support of farmers’ demands, seems to have virtually kicked off the second phase of his agitation. “The Khattar Government is working at cross-purposes as there is no collective responsibility with state ministers coming out with different stands on policy matters. With no achievement to show in the past over 10 months, the Khattar Government has been a complete failure,” Hooda alleged.

On the other hand, the INLD is set to forcefully take up various issues, including those related to fair compensation for the agitating Kaithal farmers. The INLD, which was dubbed as the “B team” of the ruling BJP by the Congress during the previous Vidhan Sabha sessions, is desperate to shake off its ‘pro-BJP’ stance on the floor of the House.

During the last Vidhan Sabha sessions, the BJP and the INLD virtually teamed up to embarrass the Congress on several issues, including the alleged favour granted to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra by the previous Hooda Government.

However, now with the Panchayat elections round the corner, the INLD and the Congress are set to ‘embarrass the ruling BJP with a view to making their presence felt in the state.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders said the party was ready to take the Opposition in its stride. “With the coming of the BJP government in the state, an era of allround development had begun in the state. We are open to debate on any issue the Opposition might raise on the floor of the House,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Bilas Sharma asserted.