NEW DELHI, Apr 19:
With the 2G spectrum and coal mines allocation scam set to generate heat in Parliament next week, Congress top brass, including Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and party Chief Sonia Gandhi, today held deliberations this evening on the way ahead.
The meeting was the second such consulations held by Gandhi during the day. Earlier, she had held a strategy session with some senior leaders.
The second part of the budget session is commencing from Monday and is scheduled to conclude on May 10.
The meeting of the core group, headed by Gandhi, took place at a time when a controversy has hotted up over the leakage of draft report of the JPC on the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
Except Finance Minister P Chidambaram, all members in the Core Group, including Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Congress President’s Political Secretary Ahmed Patel, attended the meeting.
BJP has dubbed the draft JPC report as a “cover-up” attempt to “save” Congress leaders, including Prime Minister, and vowed to raise it in Parliament.
Left parties have also strongly criticised the “deliberate leak” of the draft report, saying it amounted to breach of parliamentary privilege and sought a probe into it.
BJP has been pressing for setting up of a Special Investigation Team to probe alleged Government interference in the coal scam report.
The Congress core group is learnt to have discussed some important bills pending before Parliament which include Food Security Bill, Land Acquisition Bill and some key reform measures.
BJP has been demanding the resignation of Law Minister
Ashwani Kumar in the wake of reports that he had summoned the CBI chief and the report on the coal blocs allocation scam was toned down after the meeting. Congress has rejected the charge of interference in the preparation of the CBI report in the coal scam to the Supreme Court.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi held a strategy meeting with senior leaders including Antony, Shinde and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath
Ahmed Patel and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh also took part in the meeting held a day after the Government reached a broad consensus with political parties over the Land Acquistion Bill. (PTI)
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