Congress Holds Parliamentary Group Meeting For Monsoon Session Strategy, Discussion Likely On Delhi Ordinance Row

The meeting came ahead of the opposition's second critical mega-meeting, which will take place on July 17 in Bengaluru.

The Congress parliamentary strategy group met on Saturday (July 15) to map out the strategy for the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. Several Congress leaders arrived at 10 Janpath (UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's residence) for the meeting, according to a video posted by news agency ANI. The meeting is taking place ahead of the opposition's second critical mega-meeting on July 17 in Bengaluru. The group is likely to discuss the Centre's ordinance on service control in Delhi, which is also scheduled to be tabled in parliament. CM Arvind Kejriwal has been rallying support against the 'controversial' ordinance in an attempt to win it over in Rajya Sabha.

Kejriwal met with opposition party leaders from the TMC, SP, CPI, JMM, and Shiv Sena (UBT), among others. He also sought support from the Congress, which has remained silent on whether the Delhi ordinance should be supported or rejected.

READ | Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group Meet Today, Delhi Ordinance Likely To Be In Focus

Last week, CM Kejriwal stated that he is waiting for Congress to issue a statement condemning the Centre's Delhi Ordinance. The Grand Old Party assured Kejriwal the previous month at an Opposition meeting in Patna that a statement on the Ordinance would be issued well before the start of Parliament's Monsoon Session. Last Saturday, Kejriwal told the media that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had received the invitation to the Opposition meeting, but he was still waiting for the Congress' response on the Ordinance.

The government on Thursday listed 21 bills for the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Parliament, which begins July 20, including one on the contentious Delhi ordinance, personal data protection, and amending forest conservation laws.

READ | Ahead Of 2nd Mega Opposition Mega Meeting, Where Congress Stands On Its Ties With AAP And Left

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre on the Delhi government's petition challenging the constitutionality of the ordinance on service control in the national capital, according to PTI. A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud directed the Delhi government to revise its petition and include the Lieutenant Governor as a party in the case.