BJP plans to counter Congress on National Herald issue

The ruling BJP is firming up an offensive against the Congress on the National Herald issue with plans to counter the Opposition outside Parliament once the winter session is over.

The ruling BJP is firming up an offensive against the Congress on the National Herald issue with plans to counter the Opposition outside Parliament once the winter session is over. The Delhi high court on Saturday granted bail to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at Parliament during the winter session. The Delhi high court on Saturday granted bail to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi.(PTI)

A realisation of Congress’ strategy to block the government’s legislative agenda has started to dawn upon the treasury benches and it may wear an aggressive posture inside the two Houses for the remaining days of Parliament.

“Whatever excuse they make, it is the court summon to Congress’ top leadership in the National Herald matter that has rattled the opposition party. We are still open to discussing issues with them, but summons is a matter in which we cannot help them,” a top BJP leader said.

Senior ministers of the Modi government and BJP chief Amit Shah earlier held a deliberation in home minister Rajnath Singh’s office in Parliament complex and, a source said, the National Herald issue and CBI’s raid on Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s principal secretary was discussed in detail. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, finance minister Arun Jaitley and urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu were also present at the meeting.

Party seniors admit the constitutional amendment bill to roll out the GST may not see the light of the day in the current session.

Jaitley is also addressing an event of industry bodies in Delhi on Wednesday where he will make an aggressive pitch for the GST, a subject high on the government’s priority. “The industry will also exert pressure on the Congress,” said a minister.

“We are mulling over programmes outside Parliament to build public opinion against the Congress for stopping some progressive legislations for no reasons. We will soon announce it,” BJP secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

Earlier in the day, the party issued a whip to its MPs asking them to remain present in their respective Houses for the remaining days of Parliament.

In a meeting, the BJP parliamentary party voiced concern over the way the Congress was creating “obstruction” in the path of development. A booklet titled National Herald case: Family Greed and National Blackmail was also distributed among the BJP MPs.