मनरेगा, SIR, गिरता रुपया… बजट सत्र में इन मुद्दों पर सरकार को घेरेगी कांग्रेस, सोनिया गांधी ने बनाई क्या रणनीति?

As the highly anticipated Budget Session of Parliament gets underway, the Congress party has signaled its intent to launch a vigorous offensive against the government on a range of critical national issues. Emerging from a crucial strategy meeting chaired by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the party leadership has identified MNREGA and the contentious issue of voting rights related to the Election Commission's Specific Identification Requirement (SIR) as their primary battlegrounds.

Rajya Sabha MP Nasir Hussain, addressing the media after the high-stakes gathering at Sonia Gandhi's residence, underscored the party's resolve. "The first phase of the Budget Session will prominently feature the MNREGA scheme," Hussain stated, highlighting its vital role in rural employment and the Congress's concerns regarding its implementation and the potential impact of any new legislative frameworks. He further elaborated on the Election Commission's SIR, stressing the widespread difficulties it poses for citizens across the nation and the fundamental threat it poses to their right to vote, a cornerstone of India's democracy.

Beyond these immediate concerns, Congress plans to broaden its parliamentary attack, bringing a diverse portfolio of issues to the forefront. These include pressing environmental concerns, exemplified by the Aravalli range's ecological fragility, and critical public health matters, such as the tragic fatalities caused by contaminated drinking water in Indore. The party will also delve into significant foreign policy debates, the economic ramifications of international trade policies like "Trump tariffs," and the persistent challenge of the rupee's depreciation against the dollar, which impacts every Indian's pocket.

Sources present at the strategy session revealed Sonia Gandhi's direct counsel to her party members. She cautioned against the ruling dispensation's potential attempts to divert serious parliamentary debate with peripheral issues. "We must not fall into that trap," she reportedly emphasized, "instead, we must remain focused on the genuine issues affecting the poor and marginalized sections of our society." This directive sets a clear agenda for the party's parliamentarians, urging them to prioritize substantive discussions over political distractions.

Echoing this sentiment, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, reportedly guided the strategy on parliamentary tactics. While acknowledging that a new law, VB Jiramji, has largely replaced MNREGA and that discussions on SIR (election reforms) have previously occurred, he stressed the importance of persistence. He advised that even if the government appears reluctant to re-engage on these specific topics, the party must skillfully weave these concerns into the debate surrounding the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. Party sources confirmed that Rahul Gandhi is slated to actively participate in this crucial discussion, commencing on February 2, using the opportunity to vigorously question the Modi government on the predetermined issues.

A nuanced approach is being adopted by the Congress regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding the University Grants Commission's (UGC) new regulations. While the party has chosen a "wait and watch" strategy on this specific matter, MP Nasir Hussain, when questioned, reiterated the party's overarching demand for a caste census, positing it as the ultimate solution to such complex social and educational challenges. Interestingly, this stance contrasts with that of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the party's student wing, which has reportedly welcomed the new UGC norms, signaling a potential internal divergence or a broader strategy to engage with different stakeholders.

In a crucial move towards strengthening opposition unity, a meeting of floor leaders from various opposition parties has been convened for Wednesday morning. This gathering aims to forge a common, cohesive strategy for the Budget Session. Nasir Hussain carefully framed this as a "joint opposition meeting" rather than specifically an "India alliance meeting," perhaps to encourage broader participation and underline the collective resolve of all non-government parties.

The pivotal Congress strategy session saw the attendance of several stalwarts, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Party President Mallikarjun Kharge, P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, Pramod Tiwari, KC Venugopal, and Tariq Anwar. Conspicuously absent once again was Shashi Tharoor. However, close aides to Tharoor clarified that his absence was due to a pre-scheduled visit to Dubai, from which he was expected to return on Tuesday night, and that party leadership had been duly informed of his prior commitments.

The forthcoming Budget Session promises to be a dynamic arena, with the Congress leadership signaling a no-holds-barred approach to hold the government accountable on issues ranging from grassroots welfare to macro-economic policy and democratic rights. The stage is set for intense parliamentary debates and strategic maneuvers from both sides.