Congress wants to 'pay back' BJP, will stall bills in Parliament

The NDA government will have to face a tough time in getting key legislations passed in Parliament with senior Congress leaders impressing upon the leadership to “pay the BJP back” in the same coin.

The NDA government will have to face a tough time in getting key legislations passed in Parliament with senior Congress leaders impressing upon the leadership to “pay the BJP back” in the same coin.

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The thought in the Opposition party is that the BJP, during the UPA rule, had played an “obstructionist” role and stalled key bills on economic reforms.

A section, which includes some general secretaries considered close to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, had expressed anguish with the party for allowing the passage of insurance, mines and minerals and coal mines bills in the budget session of the Parliament.

“These bills could be passed only because of us. But the Modi government later took entire credit for these economic reform measures and did not even acknowledge the role of the Opposition,” a senior Congress leader said.

Some leaders had conveyed their displeasure and urged the Congress leadership to spell out the party stand on other important bills such as the Goods and Services Tax.

“As the main Opposition party during the UPA rule, BJP indulged in double speak. They would say one thing in business advisory committee meetings and do a complete U-turn outside. It’s our turn now to play spoilsport. We will not allow a single bill to get through,” said a general secretary who is also a Rajya Sabha MP.

“We are against any kind of deal with the government on any bill,” he added.