Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) Leaders of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) will meet here Monday evening to discuss the strategy for the monsoon session of parliament beginning next week.
Congress sources said that the meeting will be held at the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

With the opposition having signalled its intention to exert pressure on the issue of price rise, the UPA leaders are expected to discuss the government’s response.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will also attend the meeting. UPA constituents including the Trinamool Congress, the DMK, the National Conference and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are also expected to attend the meeting.

The opposition, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left, organised a countrywide shutdown July 5 against price rise and hike in prices of petroleum products.

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Sharad Yadav later said that efforts will continue for larger opposition unity on the issue of price rise.

The opposition is also likely to raise the issues of Bhopal gas verdict, talks with Pakistan, Maoist violence and the recent train accidents, including Monday’s tragedy in Birbhum district of in West Bengal which claimed at least 60 lives.

The Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the JD-U are likely to raise the issue of caste-based census during the session.

The month-long monsoon session will commence July 26.