Rahul Gandhi vs BJP: Debate on Communal Violence Likely in Parliament Today

New Delhi: A discussion on recent incidents of communal violence - the demand for which brought an unusually aggressive Rahul Gandhi to the well of the Lok Sabha in protest last week - is likely to be held in the lower house today. (Rahul Gandhi May Get His Debate on Communal Violence. Will He Speak?)

The Congress has quoted media reports to allege that there have been more than 600 incidents of communal tension in Uttar Pradesh in the eleven weeks since the Narendra Modi government was sworn in. (Read: No 'Meethi' Eid for Saharanpur This Year)

Last week's protest demanding an immediate discussion in Parliament was seen as an attempt by the Congress to rally other opposition parties behind it on yet another issue. It is counting on the fact that parties like the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Trinamool Congress cannot stand with the BJP-led government in a debate on communal violence. (Blame Game Over Rahul Gandhi's Comments on Uttar Pradesh Riots)

Also the Left, whose Sitaram Yechury has said, "Data from the Home Ministry says that 623 communal violence cases have been reported after the Modi government came in to power. Most of the areas where the violence has taken place will go to the polls soon. This is aimed at gaining votes."

On the weekend Mr Gandhi alleged in a newspaper interview that the communal conflict in Uttar Pradesh have been "artificially and deliberately engineered" as part of a strategy to "divide the poor," clearly aiming at the BJP. (Uttar Pradesh Riots Engineered? Rahul Gandhi Thinks So, BJP Does Not)

Mr Modi retorted at a BJP meeting on Saturday, "Despite their humiliating defeat, those who cannot move away from vote-bank politics are harming the social fabric...This politics of promoting polarisation and divisiveness for electoral gain must end."

It is to be seen whether Mr Gandhi, a three-time MP and Congress vice president will speak in the Parliament debate after accusing Speaker Sumitra Mahajan of bias.  "We are not being allowed to speak in Parliament...there is a mood in Parliament that only one man's voice counts for anything in this country," he said in a jibe at Mr Modi. (Read:Just One Man's Voice Heard In Parliament, Says Rahul Gandhi)

The BJP's Arun Jailtley retorted, "Those who don't speak in the House accuse us of not allowing them to speak." Mr Gandhi is often criticised for not being active or vocal enough in Parliament. (Also read: After Rahul Gandhi's Jibe at Prime Minister, BJP Talks of 'Palace Coup')

The Congress leader has however insisted, "I have raised my voice many times in Parliament."