Bowing to the Opposition demand the Government agreed to have a discussion on price rise in Lok Sabha tomorrow under Rule (184) that entails voting.
Parliament to discuss price rise
According to sources the Opposition will formally launch its attack against the government on the issue of rising prices at 11 am Wednesday.
In the Lok Sabha, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha will move a motion against the government.
Earlier, the Government was adamant that it would not debate the issue under rules that entail voting that make the House’s recommendations binding. Sources say that the Opposition as a part of a compromise would not indict the Government on price rise. These may be a combined consensus resolution expressing deep concern over the failure to curb rising prices.
Earlier in the day the leaders of the Left parties, Janata Dal (Secular), Telegu Desam Party and AlADMK jointly addressed the media and demanded a discussion in both the Houses of the Parliament which entails voting. The CPM leader, Sitaram Yechury said that the Left and the secular parties, isolating the BJP would move the resolution on price rise in both the houses of the Parliament.
The CPI leader, Guru Dasgupta urged the Government to accept their demand as it would send a message to the people that Parliament was concerned over price rise. He said that the discussion in Parliament would have a sobering impact on rising trend in prices of essential commodities.
The BJP leader, Arun Jaitley also addressed the media and said that his party would move a resolution on price rise which entails voting.
In June the wholesale price index measured price inflation rising to 9.44%.
On Tuesday a torrent of issues ranging from price rise to demand for dismissal of Mayawati government and immediate execution of Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru drowned the second day of the Monsoon session of Parliament.
Both the Houses of the Parliament were adjourned for the day at 2.00 pm after two earlier adjournments with BJP, BSP, SP and Shiv Sena members storming the Well on diverse issues.
Both the Left parties and the BJP raised the issue of price rise. In Rajya Sabha the BJP led by M Venkaiah Naidu made a strong pitch for suspension of Question Hour to discuss the issue.
Left parties in the Lok Sabha had given a notice for an adjournment motion on the issue of price rise.
In an attempt to scuttle the BJP’s aggressive mode, the Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken made a statement on the irregularities in the hosting of Commonwealth Games last year which sought to drag in the erstwhile BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
He said the then NDA government bypassed the Delhi Government and made the Centre responsible for all financial and infrastructural obligations which were against established norms.
It was trouble for the Government in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as BJP members in the Upper House and those from the BSP, SP and Shiv Sena in the Lower House raised several issues simultaneously by storming the well.
Both the Houses were first adjourned for nearly an hour till noon and then till 2 PM because of the ruckus.
As polls are due in Uttar Pradesh in the near future, the Samajwadi Party members in the Lok Sabha seized the opportunity to train their guns on Mayawati-led BSP government in the state and demanded its dismissal. They said that the state government was committing atrocities against farmers.
The BSP members, whose government in UP is in the dock over the issue of land acquisition, followed suit by carrying placards, blaming Congress-led government for the poor conditions of the peasantry. They demanded immediate passage of the Land Acquisition Bill.
Shiv Sena MPs stormed the well raising slogans and waving placards demanding immediate hanging of Mumbai terror attack culprit Ajmal Kasab and Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Shiv Sena members also raised the issue of security in the financial capital of the country.