New Delhi:
The government will be going into the Monsoon Session of Parliament today, hoping for a smooth ride. But the Opposition is united over price rise and is likely to take on the government over the issue. (
Read: What's on agenda)
However, the BJP will be facing the heat over the arrest of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's key aide Amit Shah and could be left isolated in the House. (
Read: Gujarat minister Amit Shah resigns, Modi says Shah is not guilty)
An all-party meeting was held by the Speaker on Sunday - a day before the Session to ensure smooth conduct of the affairs during the Monsoon Session. But that could be tough.
The Opposition and even some allies of the government are united on the price rise issue which they say has been aggravated by the fuel price hike.
So, they want a discussion ending with a vote which could be embarrassing for the government.
But that's not the only thing; there's more.
Senior BJP leader LK Advani has said the government's Pakistan policy is in shambles and the BJP has accused Foreign Minister SM Krishna of insulting Home Secretary GK Pillai by not defending him on Pakistani soil.
The party will also demand a new deal for Bhopal victims and ask who in the 1984 Congress government allowed Warren Anderson to get away.
But the BJP will launch an offensive on what it calls the misuse of CBI because of the Amit Shah case.
However, the Opposition is divided on this.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who too faces CBI cases, decided to stay mum and the Left, who too says CBI is a political tool, refused to give BJP any reason to cheer.
"We agree about politicisation of CBI but do not agree in the case of the Gujarat minister," CPM leader Gurudas Dasgupta said.
"The government brought this CBI issue to divide the Opposition," said senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.
In fact, the Left would target the BJP government in Karnataka for protecting those allegedly involved in illegal mining, the killing of an RTI activist in Gujarat and the recent evidence of saffron terror links.
On its part, the government says it is ready to discuss all issues.
"We are ready for any discussion but under what rule is something that the Speaker will decide," Minister of State for Home Prithviraj Chavan said.
High food prices and the recent fuel hike are the only issues where the Opposition seems united. Otherwise, everybody has their own political agenda and a divided Opposition is good news to the government.