Amid the hostile environment between the ruling party and the opposition, the Congress managed to win the olive branch from the BJP. The Congress leadership was confused when Congress ally IUML insisted on the only seat reserved for the opposition in the governing body of the centrally-run Sree Chitra Institute of Medical Sciences in Thiruvananthapuram, as Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor also wanted it. To keep the Kerala ally in good humour, the Congress acceded to the IUML’s demand. The party’s deputy leader Kodikunil Suresh then discussed the issue with Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal who agreed to give the Congress another seat in Gujarat instead of the same post. Finally, Tharoor, who was a member of the body in the last term, and ET Bashir of IUML were elected to the governing body. But sources said Tharoor was not too happy about not being his party’s first choice.
Learning the law
After the Congress Working Committee “reiterated its strong commitment to the Place of Faith Act, 1991”, the minority department of the party’s UP unit has been actively working to spread awareness about the law. The department, headed by AICC Secretary Shahnawaz Alam, is organizing a program on the Act at the Constitution Club in Delhi. Professor Apoorvananda has confirmed his presence as a speaker, while Alam is also trying to bring some eminent lawyers to the program. The idea behind the discussion is to “pressure the secular India bloc parties to clarify their stand on the law” and to spread awareness about the law amid growing controversy over religious sites in the country, sources said.
More than expected
The Ministry of Health conducted an awareness campaign for parliamentarians as part of the 100-day intensive campaign against tuberculosis on Wednesday. In the program, Minister of State (Health) Anurpriya Patel said that the people of the ministry were worried about the participation of MPs in view of the disruption in the House. When about 250 lawmakers showed up, Patel said she was glad they understood the importance of the issue. Although all MPs were invited, the participation of around 275 MPs with 347 high-burden districts in their constituencies was strongly desired.
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