New Delhi: Ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called for a meeting of all NDA constituents as it is facing the heat over the Vyapam scam and Lalit Modi in which senior leaders are embroiled.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday held a crisis management meeting in the national capital over the controversies that have engulfed the party's two regional stalwarts. The party discussed strategies to counter attacks by the Opposition in Parliament.
The meeting was held at BJP chief Amit Shah's residence was attended by Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Smriti Irani, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Venkaiah Naidu, MA Naqvi and Piyush Goyal
Top BJP leaders huddled up at 7 RCR as well to discuss the crisis.
The Speaker will also hold an all-party meeting on Monday.
The Congress which has been demanding the ouster of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has threatened to disrupt Parliament.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "Then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji used to feel that there should be some action taken, some resignations made, but today's government is totally thick-skinned. Our Home Minister says that "we aren't the UPA that we'll take resignations, we are the NDA". NDA doesn't care about what people think, want."
However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu is hopeful that the Opposition will let the House function. "I have no apprehension. I want Opposition to understand the desire of the people and cooperate in the functioning of the House. I propose, if they want to oppose, let them oppose. That has been my stand. Congress party has taken up its own stand. But I hope other parties understand the political implications and cooperate in the functioning of the govt."
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is under fire over the multi-crore Vyapam in which at least 49 people have died. The Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam relates to irregularities in admission in state-run medical colleges and recruitment in government jobs.
Union Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara came under opposition's attack over allegedly helping former Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi. While Swaraj claimed to have no objection to Lalit Modi's request to travel out of UK, Raje allegedly helped him to get UK stay permit.
Backing Swaraj, Naidu said, "There is no question of External Affairs Minister resigning. No wrong has been done morally or legally. She is one of the best performing ministers."
Besides pressing for removal of Swaraj, opposition has indicated that it will also target HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who is facing charges related to an educational certificate. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh may also be targeted in connection with a rice scam.
The ruling BJP, on its part, is likely to train its guns on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of Congress, who is embroiled in a disproportionate assets case.
The session will begin on July 21 to August 13.
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