New Delhi: The issue of price rise rocked
Parliament on Tuesday with Opposition closing ranks to corner the
government by seeking discussion under rules that entail
voting, leading to a confrontation with the treasury benches.
The first day of Parliament after the President`s address
to a joint sitting saw the two sides at loggerheads as a
united opposition charged the Congress-led coalition with
"failure" in checking rising food prices.
Food inflation is near 18 per cent as prices of essential
commodities like sugar, pulses, rice and vegetables have gone
through the roof in the recent months.
It was trouble from the word go in both the Houses as Lok
Sabha saw opposition members demanding admission of an
adjournment motion, while in the Rajya Sabha, they wanted a
debate under a rule which stipulates voting. Government is in
a minority in the Upper House.
Both the Houses were adjourned for day in the afternoon as
members from BJP, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party, RJD and the
Left stormed the well shouting anti-government slogans. SP and
RJD are outside supporters of the UPA.
In the Lok Sabha, some BJP members were seen carrying
placards saying, "Mahangai ko samapt karo, Mahangai mantri ko
barkhast karo (check price rise, dismiss the minister
responsible for price rise)."
Both Finance Minster Pranab Mukherjee and Food and
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar were present in the House.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said,
"This government has completely failed to check rising
prices."
Sushma Swaraj, who took over as the Leader of Opposition
in the Lok Sabha today, made a strong pitch for an adjournment
motion saying several debates on the issue under Rule 193,
which provides for a short duration discussion only and no
voting, had failed" to have the desired effect on the
government.
Making a spirited defence, Parliamentary Affairs Minister
P K Bansal said while the government was ready to discuss any
issue on the floor of the House, the "rules do not permit an
adjournment motion".
There was an uproar when Bansal suggested that state
governments were primarily responsible for implementing laws
like Essential Commodities Act and those relating to public
distribution system and hoarding.
Opposition members countered that the government was
"running away" from confronting the problems of the people by
putting the blame on states. SP and RJD members ten trooped
into the well while their Left and BJP colleagues stood in
protest.
Speaker Meira Kumar tried in vain to pacify the agitated
members who were in no mood to listen. She first adjourned the
House till noon and later for the day.
SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav described price rise as a
serious challenge and said a large chunk of the people will
not be in a position to celebrate the upcoming Holi.
In the Rajya Sabha, the Leader of Opposition said the BJP
had given two notices -- one for suspension of Question Hour,
to take up the issue of rise in food prices, and the second
for a discussion under Rules 167 and 168, a demand rejected by
the treasury benches.
"This government has completely failed to check rising
prices," Jaitley said.
Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said the opposition was "very very
agitated" on the issue and discussion should be held under
substantial motion, a rule that entails voting.
Chairman Hamid Ansari said there was consensus to have
discussion on the issue but not on the procedure. A short
duration discussion on the issue was scheduled for the day.
But this did not satisfy the Opposition members who were
on their feet seeking discussion under Rules 167 and 168,
which entail voting.
"I am afraid we can`t conduct business like this," Ansari
said before adjourning the House till noon.
When the House re-assembled, the Opposition persisted with
its demand for a discussion entailing voting, with an apparent
intent to corner the government.
However, Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan said the notice
admitted by the Business Advisory Committee related to a short
duration discussion.
The unrelenting and united opposition started slogan
shouting and stormed into the well.
"Mehengai jo na rok saki, woh sarkar nikammi hai (the
government which has failed to check prices is incompetent).
Khan then adjourned the House for the day.
PTI
