New Delhi: In a rare show of solidarity,
BJP, Left and several other Opposition parties on Tuesday came
together to demand a statement by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh followed by a debate on Anna Hazare`s arrest and hinted
that Parliament would otherwise not be allowed to function.
As Hazare was arrested and sent to Tihar Jail, leaders of
BJP, JD(U), Shiv Sena, CPI(M), CPI, Samajwadi Party, RJD and
some other non-UPA parties held a meeting to discuss the issue
and devised the common strategy of pursuing agitation in
Parliament against corruption.
"It has been decided that the Prime Minister should make
a statement in both Houses of Parliament on whatever is
happening in the country. Nobody else," Leader of Opposition
in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said.
"PM will have to come to both Houses of Parliament and
give a statement. After this there should be a debate on this
issue. This is what we have decided," she said.
Rest of the strategy will be decided after that, Swaraj
said, making it clear that functioning of House could be
affected if the demands were not met.
Contending that action against Hazare reflected the
government`s "nervousness", she said the Opposition unity was
not on Jan Lokpal Bill but "violation of democratic rights".
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley alleged
the government was "trying to snatch people`s right to
protest" and said "the political leadership is trying to hide
behind uniform (police)".
Amid indications that Parliament would not be allowed to
function, Jaitley said the impeachment proceedings against
Calcutta High Court judge Soumitra Sen tomorrow will take
place as per schedule at 3.00 pm.
PTI
