Cong debates Sushma, Smriti 'boycott' in Parliament

The Congress is considering a boycott of union ministers Sushma Swaraj and Smriti Irani in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament which will begin on July 21. A decision will be taken at the Congress Parliamentary Party meet on the same date.


The Congress is divided on this matter as many MPs have said a boycott of the two ministers tainted by the Lalit Modi issue and a 'fake' degree case, may in fact boomerang since the BJP will remain in office for another four years.

Congressmen feel that while they could disrupt parliament proceedings, there should not be any official boycott.

A boycott means that the Congress will not allow the two ministers to answer questions on their ministries and will create a ruckus whenever they make statements in both houses of Parliament.


This is precisely how the Congress boycotted the late Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP George Fernandes and others during NDA I.


Senior Congress leaders who had a luncheon meeting today had floated this idea, but with the absence of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi from India, a consultation process will begin once again when they return.