Budget session: Cong. to pursue aggressive line

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB 16. The Congress intends to continue with its aggressive streak in Parliament during the Budget session which commences on Monday. Though the Budget and its fallout will dominate the session, the party has shortlisted a host of other issues on which it proposes to haul the Government over the coals. On top of the party's agenda is the human tragedy resulting from the quake in Gujarat.

According to the Deputy Leader of the party in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Madhavrao Scindia, the party will adopt a constructive attitude towards the Gujarat tragedy. Though it plans to raise the issue in a big way by pointing out the Government's failure to act in time, the party will also offer positive suggestions on relief and rehabilitation. The Government, however, can expect no favours on other issues: The Congress plans to start from where it left off on the Ayodhya issue. This time around the party plans to pin down not just the BJP but also the allies of the Government. ``We will not only demand that the Government categorically state its position on the construction plans of the VHP, but also make sure that each of the allies state its position separately,'' said Mr. Scindia.

Having taken up the farmers issue in big way during the last session the Congress plans to continue in a similar vein this time as well. ``We are totally dissatisfied with the lack of safeguards for the farming community,'' Mr. Scindia said. The party will once again demand a white paper clearly laying down the safeguards the Government proposes to have in place before signing the new agreement in November. Though the party has welcomed attempts at bringing about peace in J&K, the Government will have some explaining to do on the issue, as the Congress plans to quiz it closely on the subject. ``The Government clearly has not done its homework, it must thoroughly prepare itself before it embarks on a new measure,'' Mr. Scindia said. The party will call for greater coordination between the State and the Centre which does not seem to be happening at the moment.

Mr. Scindia also accused the Government of destabilising democratically elected governments in the sensitive North-Eastern States and said his party would focus on the negative role being played by the Union Government. The party will also focus on the rapidly increasing population and demand a discussion on it.

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