Winter session: 'Centre conspiring to divide Opposition', says Mallikarjun Kharge

Demanding the government call an all-party meeting, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the Centre's invitation to four Opposition parties to discuss the issue of 12 MPs was "a conspiracy to divide the Opposition."

"The government has called for a meeting of four Opposition parties on the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs. This is a conspiracy to divide the Opposition. All Opposition parties are united on this issue. We have written to the government to call an all-party meeting," Kharge told reporters.

Leader of Congress party in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said running of the Parliament depends on the government.

"It depends upon the government as to how it wants to run the Lok Sabha. The government has not called us for any meeting as the matter is of Rajya Sabha," Chowdhury said adding that the Opposition will raise the issue of the resignation of the Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni over the Lakhimpur Kheri issue.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi criticized the Opposition for creating the logjam over the function of the parliament.

"We want to talk to the Opposition parties whose Rajya Sabha MPs have been suspended to find a solution. They (Opposition) are boycotting the meeting. They also boycotted the Constitution Day event...They should understand that the public is also boycotting them," Pralhad Joshi told ANI. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with senior ministers of his government in Parliament today to discuss various issues and the further strategy for the ongoing winter session.

-ANI

Also Read: Winter Session: Opposition not to attend meeting called by Centre to end RS logjam