BJP to raise Mumbai blasts, land acquisition, graft in Parl

New Delhi, Jul 30: Mumbai serial blasts, Maoist violence, corruption and black money stashed by Indians in foreign banks are some of the prominent issues which the BJP will raise in the forthcoming Monsoon session of Parliament beginning Monday.

The Opposition party held a meeting of its Parliamentary Party Executive at senior leader L K Advani's residence here today to identify some of the issues to be raised during the session.

"We have demanded a discussion on internal security with special reference to Mumbai terror attacks under Rule 193. We have also asked for a discussion on Maoist violence in the country," Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj tweeted after the meeting.

Discussion under Rule 193 of Lok Sabha does not entail voting. Other issues have also been identified by BJP which wants to corner the UPA-II government in the forthcoming session.

"Major issues are price rise, corruption/black money, Telangana, Air India, killing/ arrest of Indian fishermen, FDI in retail and farmers agitation on land acquisitions," Swaraj said.

BJP has also decided not to oppose introduction of the Lokpal Bill despite having major differences with the government's draft.

"Government is introducing Lokpal Bill on 3rd August. The Bill will be referred to the Standing Committee. We will present our amendments before the Committee to make the Bill much more effective," Swaraj said.

BJP wants the office of Prime Minister to be brought under the purview of the Lokpal but the proposed Bill has kept him out of it. Floor leaders of BJP-led NDA in both Houses of Parliament will also be meeting later today.

PTI