Cong to corner govt on Bhopal blast, Lucknow encounter in Parliament today

Cong will raise the issues of attack on Indians in the US too

Attacks on Indians in the US and the anti-terror operation in Lucknow will be raised in Parliament on the first day of the second-half of Budget Session starting on Thursday, the Congress said on Wednesday.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge told IANS that on Thursday, the party will raise the issues of attack on Indians in the US and the anti-terror operation of Lucknow, in which a youth was killed, as well as the bomb blast in a train near Bhopal.

"On Thursday, these two issues will be raised. We will decide on other issues to be raised in rest of the session later," Kharge told IANS.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to make a statement on both issues on Thursday, according to informed sources in the Home Ministry.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that the government is prepared to take up any discussion opposition parties want.

"The government is prepared to discuss all issues raised by the opposition subject to permission of the presiding officers," Naqvi said.

The minister told IANS that pending bills, including the ones relating to Goods and Services Tax and Enemy Property, are among those on the government's agenda.

"There are 20 new bills on the agenda of the government," Naqvi told IANS.

Leaders from different parties felt that the mood of the session will depend on the results of assembly elections in five states -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur.

Asked about it, Naqvi did not deny the possible impact of the results of assembly polls to five states on the session.