Cong to take aggressive stand on govt decisions

Congress today said it will take an aggressive stand in the coming days on key issues like land ordinance, hike in excise duty on petrol and diesel and creation of NITI Aayog.
Party spokesman Ajoy Kumar told reporters that the NDA government's land ordinance was aimed at taking the "heart and soul" out of the Land Acquisition Act brought out by the UPA to give a fair deal to the farmers.
"We will raise the issue vigorously inside and outside Parliament. We will challenge it in every forum," he said noting that the Land Acquisition bill was finalised by a Parliamentary Committee headed by BJP leader Sumitra Mahajan, who is now Lok Sabha Speaker.

Noting that President Pranab Mukherjee had sought clarifications from the government on the land ordinance, he said, "It is a very serious thing... Something is definitely worrying him."
On creation of NITI Aayog, he alleged that the move to replace the Planning Commission was a "dangerous" one and an attack on the federal structure, aimed at centralising powers in the Prime Minister's Office.
"It is a matter of concern as what has happened was a direct attack on the federal structure. It is an attempt at centralisation and making the plan body an extension of the PMO," he said.

The Congress spokesman also attacked the government for raising the excise duty on petrol and diesel at a time when the international prices of crude oil are falling.

"Those who had promised good days to the people are now instead of passing the benefits to them were filling the coffers of the government and helping the oil companies," he said noting that this was the third such hike in recent months.
A Congress leader, who declined to be identified, said that the party would also ask its chief ministers to raise the issues aggressively.