New Delhi: In a scathing attack on BJP, the
CPI(M) on Thursday accused the main opposition of repeatedly
entering into agreements with Congress to help the government
"escape" a vote in Parliament on the issue of price rise.
"In the past three sessions, we have found that Congress
and the main opposition party have come to some sort of an
understanding repeatedly, bypassing the rest of Parliament and
political parties," senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told
reporters.
He said the two parties have been "acting in tandem to
help the UPA government escape voting" on the issue of price
rise and "that is how Parliament has been functioning for the
last three sessions".
Referring to the disruption of parliamentary proceedings,
he said, "Who stands to benefit? It suits the government not
to have discussion on price rise and corruption....The main
beneficiary of this is the government."
Yechury said in the seventh session of Lok Sabha, the
Chair moved a resolution on price rise after the principle
opposition party agreed to it. "The draft of this resolution
was not shared with us (Left and other parties)," he said.
In the eighth session, Congress and BJP agreed on a common
draft resolution on the same issue, which was moved by BJP
leader Yashwant Sinha. "We voted against it saying the
resolution was not adequate. We had also asked for a division
by pressing an agreement," Yechury said.
"Now they have again come to an understanding with
Congress by agreeing to a draft adjournment motion on
black money, which is inadequate. It is to be moved by BJP.
And, as per procedures, only one adjournment motion can be
taken up in one session. So our adjournment motion on price
rise is not being taken up," he rued.
Yechury said the Left`s adjournment notice on price rise
was rejected by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on grounds that
it was "not of urgent importance as prices have been rising
for the past three years. So our adjournment motion has been
converted into a motion which does not entail voting.
"But urgency lies as unbearable burden is being put on the
people...," he said, adding, "Our aim to have a debate
followed by voting is to pressurise the government into taking
concrete steps to check rising prices."
Yechury said he and his party leader in Lok Sabha Basudeb
Acharia have once again moved motions on price rise issue
under rules which entail voting.
On the issue of black money, Acharia said the BJP would
raise the issue on an "agreed draft on the situation arising
out of moneys illegally stashed in foreign banks and action
against those responsible. It does not censure the government
as a motion which entails voting should."
Maintaining that the CPI(M) would move a separate
resolution on the issue on motions which entail voting, he
said, "Our main thrust is that corruption is the prime cause
of black money.
"We will demand bringing back the moneys stashed abroad,
using them for people`s welfare and action against culprits.
Even if their (BJP) motion is accepted, we can move
amendments.
"Why is the government inactive on the issue? They have a
list of 700 names of people who have stashed wealth abroad.
Why is it silent? Why it is not disclosing these names,"
Acharia asked.
PTI
