Congress leaders discuss party strategy for monsoon session

Senior Congress leaders met at party president Sonia Gandhi's residence here on Tuesday to discuss the party's strategy for the monsoon session of parliament beginning next Monday.

The Congress is expected to adopt an aggressive stance against the National Democratic Alliance government during the session and raise a range of issues including controversies surrounding former IPL chief Lalit Modi and the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh.

Congress sources said the party will press for resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for their help to Lalit Modi, who is facing investigation in cases of alleged tax evasion.

The party has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his "silence" over controversies facing his party colleagues.

The Congress is against amendments to the land bill passed during the United Progressive Alliance government. It also wants the government to revisit the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill.

It is also demanding Supreme Court monitored Central Bureau of Investigation probe in the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board, better known as Vyapam scam and around 40 deaths linked to it.

Sources said that those who attended the meeting at Sonia Gandhi's residence included party leaders in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president. Vice president Rahul Gandhi was also present.

"The meeting also discussed ways for greater floor coordination with other opposition parties," a party functionary said.

Leaders of several opposition parties had attended the iftar hosted by Sonia Gandhi on Monday. However, no leader from the Samajwadi Party was present.