The government has conceded to the Opposition demand to debate under rule 184, entailing voting, in the Lok Sabha the issue of re-induction of George Fernandes in the Union council of ministers. The decision to this effect was Tuesday arrived at a meeting convened by Speaker G M C Balayogi with parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan, deputy leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Shivraj V Patil and party chief spokesman S Jaipal Reddy in New Delhi.
The government had earlier favoured the debate under rule 193, which does not require voting. The Congress cited the precedent when the appointment of three central ministers chargesheeted in the Ayodhya case was discussed in the House last December under rule 184. The Congress never diluted its stand on the issue. The problem related to the wording of the motion, Reddy told mediapersons.
The rule to mention the name of the three ministers was suspended by the speaker then. It was not possible now, Reddy said.
Bureau Report