Rahul may take part in debate on communal violence next week

The Congress is planning a low-profile start in the Lok Sabha next week to the discussion on the rising communal violence and bring in senior party leaders, including possibly Rahul Gandhi, to raise the pitch when the debate is at its peak.

The Congress is planning a low-profile start in the Lok Sabha next week to the discussion on the rising communal violence and bring in senior party leaders, including possibly Rahul Gandhi, to raise the pitch when the debate is at its peak.

The otherwise reticent Congress vice president led from the front this week when the party stalled proceedings in the Lok Sabha to demand the discussion. Gandhi went in so far as to accompany his colleagues to the well of the House, something that party leaders usually leave their other members to do. Next, he had gone all guns blazing at Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for rejecting the demand for a discussion.

Congress sources said the party will field Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Baharampur, West Bengal) and MI Shanavas (Wayand, Kerala) to start the discussion that the Speaker had finally agreed for Monday. “But this is just the beginning… There will be other senior leaders too,” a senior Congress functionary said, hinting that Rahul Gandhi could make a spirited — even if brief — point.

Gandhi’s office said there was no final decision on his participation in the debate. But if he does stand up to make his voice heard on Monday, this would be his first time in the 16th Lok Sabha.