Opposition Irked With Congress For Meeting PM Modi ‘Alone’

At the meeting, PM Modi told Rahul Gandhi should meet regularly.

Amid the ruckus in Parliament over demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a delegation of Congress leaders, led by party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, at the PMO on Friday.

PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi sat facing each other at the meeting, during which the former said that they should meet regularly.

The meeting comes days after Gandhi claimed to have proof on Modi that can “explode his balloon”.

During the meeting, the Congress Vice-President asked the PM to write off the loans given to farmers like had been done for corporate houses.

"This government has waived off loans of Rs 1.4 lakh crore to corporates. So we urged the government to waive off the loans of the farmers as well," Gandhi said after the meeting.

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The delegation also raised the issue of farmer suicides with Modi.

Thousands of farmers are committing suicide across the country. Every single day a farmer is committing suicide in Punjab. We met the PM and apprised him about the plight of farmers across the country. 

Rahul Gandhi

The delegation comprised senior Congress leaders, including Punjab state unit chief Captain Amarinder Singh and leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

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Cracks Within the Opposition?

The other Opposition parties, which backed the Congress over demonetisation and other issues in Parliament, were miffed over Gandhi's decision to meet Modi after threatening to expose his corruption.

People are upset the Congress went to meet the PM alone. The Congress leadership thinks Congress is an ocean – and we should all submerge. This is natural arrogance. That will not do good to them.

Amar Singh, Samajwadi Party’s Rajya Sabha member

NCP leader DP Tripathi said instead of meeting the PM, the Congress should have strengthened Opposition unity.

Congress is not helping its cause. That is why we are not joining them in meeting the President.

DP Tripathi, NCP leader

In Congress’ defence, Rajya Sabha leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "It was the Congress initiative and our agenda, not of a combined Opposition. Where do other parties come in the picture in this? I don't know why they are unhappy."

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)