Rahul Gandhi meets over 100 Oppn MPs over breakfast; leads cycle protest
Tuesday, 3 August 2021 (12:54 IST)
New Delhi: A strategy meeting called by former Congress party president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday was attended by more than 100 Opposition MPs amid continuing stalemate in Parliament.
Congress leaders said the meeting was a display of Opposition unity, adding that it will have an impact on 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Leaders from 14 political parties and over 100 MPs attended the breakfast meeting, which was followed by a march to Parliament by MPs on bicycles, with posters protesting against fuel price hike, led by Mr Gandhi.
This comes a week after the Congress leader undertook a surprise tractor ride to Parliament in support of the agitation against new farm laws.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge called the meeting a display of opposition unity.
"We are today, in this march, raising the issue of fuel price hike. Common people are suffering and government is a mute spectator," Kharge said.
He added that Pegasus snooping controversy remained a major issue for the opposition, as did the farm laws.
Congress leader Rajeev Shukla, meanwhile, said the Opposition is getting consolidated and it will reflect in 2024 General elections.
"Opposition is getting unified, and this unity will impact 2024 elections," Mr Shukla told UNI.
Leaders from Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), CPI, CPI(M), IUML, Trinamool Congress, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Kerala Congress (M), Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), National Conference, and DMK attended the meeting.
Trinamool Congress's Mahua Moitra, NCP's Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, SP's Ram Gopal Yadav and the DMK's Kanimozhi were among those who attended the meeting.
Aam Aadmi Party, and Bahujan Samaj Party leaders decided not to attend it.
After the meeting, several MPs rode bicycles to protest against fuel price hike and inflation. MPs carried placards opposing rise in petrol, diesel and LPG prices.
Both houses of Parliament have been witnessing protests and repeated adjournments over a slew of issues, with the Pegasus snooping controversy coming up as a major issue. (UNI)
