09-07-2007, 08:57 PM
From Pioneer, 6 Sept 2007
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Lame duck Parliament
Navin Upadhyay/Nidhi Sharma/Rajeev Ranjan Roy | New Delhi
Parties take positions: Govt reckless, belligerent NDA-UNPA unite, Left silent
If the Government is paralysed by its stand off with the Left over the India-US civilian nuclear agreement, then Parliament seems to have entered a lame duck phase. A sense of resignation has dawned on both the Treasury and Opposition benches about the inevitability of a mid-term poll. It was no surprise then, that both sides on Thursday refused to budge from their rigid positions on setting up a Joint Parliamentary Committee to go into the nuclear deal. The scheduled debate in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday was an obvious casualty. There is little likelihood that the Lok Sabha will be able to take up the debate on Monday. Â
The Government may be assuring its allies that the UPA-Left committee will find a way to resolve the political crisis, but the writing on the wall is clear. The Left leaders have started talking about the possibility of a mid-term poll early next year. So have senior-most Ministers in the Government. The corridors of Parliament are agog with speculation about the timing of the poll and anguished MPs are exchanging notes about their prospects.
The fallout of the India-US nuclear deal on the Muslims, who are bitterly opposed to the American intervention in Iraq and elsewhere, has emerged as a serious cause of concern for the Congress MPs, who hope that soon the Government will come up with major doles for its "captive vote bank".
Even political parties have begun to position themselves for mid-term polls, Parliamentary Affairs Minister PR Dasmunsi's accusation that the BJP was stalling in the House at the behest of someone in Chennai (read AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa) was more than enough hint of the Congress' worry about the nature of political churning in the Opposition camp.
Talking to newspersons Dasmunsi said: "I was told by influential quarters in the BJP that these (disruption) are happening because of some specific directions from Chennai. There is an invisible hand in this. They are being continuously advised to disrupt the House. I cannot disclose the name of the MPs who told me this."
When asked who he was referring to, Dasmunsi refused to take any names and said: "I hope against hope that they would convey to Chennai that enough is enough."
A senior Congress leader said: "We know for sure that BJP leaders like Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley wanted a debate but were brushed aside by Mr Advani because of Jayalalithaa." Claiming that the Congress was employing a wait-and-watch policy.
Dasmunshi's claims were debunked by BJP leaders who pointed out that the party had adopted a consistent position in opposing the deal and demanding that a JPC go into the India-US civilian nuclear agreement. "It is a figment of his imagination," said BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad.
But more than anything Dasmunsi underlined the bellicose mood of the Congress to take on the equally combative opposition head on. Such charges by a Minister who is supposed to coordinate with the Opposition for the smooth conduct of Parliament was seen as a clear message that the die was cast, and even the Congress was not interested in running the house , public posturing to the contrary notwithstanding .
Dasmunshi may be wide of the mark in claiming that the BJP was being dictated by the AIADMK leadership, but the fact remains that the AIADMK has sent subtle hints that it would not be part of any UNPA-Left combine in the event of mid-term polls.
But Dasmunshi did not spell out an equally discomforting development for the Congress. If the AIADMK was veering towards the NDA then the Left and some of the harshest critics of the Congress within the UNPA were also in the process of building bridges for the midterm polls.
With repeated disruptions by the Opposition, the speculation of a sine die adjournment has gained much momentum. Congress sources said that there is a strong possibility of an adjournment if such disruptions continued even next week. Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "Why don't you ask them (BJP) instead. The Congress party and the Government tried their best. Lets see what happens."
Sources said that the decision on a sine die adjournment would depend on the Opposition's conduct on Monday - the day the Lok Sabha is likely to debate on the nuclear deal. If the Opposition disrupts the House again, the Government could move for an adjournment. A senior Congress leader said: "This would clearly reflect their intentions. Then at least the Government would not be blamed for shying away from a debate on the nuclear deal."
Sources said that the BJP leadership has decided it was better to bring an early end to the Monsoon Session instead of entering into any compromise with the Government in running the Houses.
"What is the point in continuing with this farce? We know we are heading for midterm polls. Why should we legitimise the Left-Congress committee on the nuclear deal by taking part in the debate. After all the nuclear deal is not a family matter among two parties," said a senior BJP leader.
The NDA meeting on Thursday preceded by the BJP's Parliamentary Party meet decided against the debate on the deal if the JPC were not constituted. They rocked the two Houses to press for their demand, resulting in repeated adjournments.
A confident Sushma Swaraj of the BJP said that the Centre had no option but to agree to the reasonable demand of the Opposition for a JPC to look into their concerns with regard to the Indo-US civil nuclear co-operation. "The debate without a JPC is a trap, and we would not get into such a trap," she said.
"The Government has to concede to the Opposition demand. It took the Opposition over a fortnight to force the Government for a JPC on the Bofors kickback and the security scams," said Swaraj, the BJP's deputy leader in the Rajaya Sabha.
By refusing to buy the argument that the UPA had categorically rejected the JPC demand, she said that there was nothing categorical in Parliament. "It is a war of nerves. At times, the Government concedes to the Opposition as well. We do not consider the Government's response to be categorical," she said.
Since there is total unanimity among the NDA leaders over continuing their high-pitched attack on the UPA's total disregard for the House and the Opposition, there is hardly any scope for doubt that that they would accept anything less than a JPC to end the impasse. That too at a time when the UNPA leaders have implicitly thrown their weight behind the NDA on the JPC issue.
She said that both the Houses could debate the deal after the JPC submits its report, and termed the UPA-Left mechanism as a family welfare committee (FWC). "The FWC would not do. We want the Nation Welfare Committee that is the JPC," she said, giving the UPA strategists the liberty of having a majority on the committee.
Senior leaders attended Thursday's NDA meet chaired by LK Advani and would meet again on Friday morning to chalk out their next course of action. As the Government is 'continuously holding talks with the allies and other groups,' the NDA would favour working out their strategy on a daily basis. "Tomorrow's strategy would be discussed tomorrow," Swaraj said.
Advani in the BJP and NDA meetings blamed the UPA Government for the current imbroglio in the Houses, stating that the Centre's attitude was in contempt of Parliament and reiterated that they would not allow such things to happen. "The Opposition must be heard. Their concerns about the nuclear deal must be properly addressed," he said in the two meetings.
Stating that there was no need for any 15-member mechanism when the UPA-Left alliance already had the co-ordination committee where they discuss a plethora of issues, Swaraj said the Government should have immediately accepted the JPC demand.
"Earlier the Government did not agree to have a discussion on the deal under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha, which involved voting. We wanted a similar discussion in the Rajya Sabha as well. Now they are rejecting the JPC demand without citing any reasons," Swaraj added.
If it (the committee) is not binding, then what is it for. To have a cup of tea?
-- Gurudas Dasgupta (on Kapil Sibalâs statement that the UPA-Left committeeâs suggestions were not binding on Government)
The agreement is not acceptable to the majority in Parliament. We can all tell the Government, don't proceed (with the deal). And I don't see why the BJP cannot take that position
-- Prakash Karat
NDA has converted itself into Never Do Anything Opposition You have before you the National Disruptive Alliance. They have become habitual offenders
-- Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress spokesman
Of course, it is my job to save the Government. It is my additional responsibility to carry my supporters so that the Government continues
-- Pranab Mukherjee (On BJPâs charge that the committee was a way to save the Government)
The UPA-Left mechanism is a family welfare committee (FWC). The FWC would not do. We want the Nation Welfare Committee, that is, the JPC
-- Sushma Swaraj, BJP spokesperson<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Lame duck Parliament
Navin Upadhyay/Nidhi Sharma/Rajeev Ranjan Roy | New Delhi
Parties take positions: Govt reckless, belligerent NDA-UNPA unite, Left silent
If the Government is paralysed by its stand off with the Left over the India-US civilian nuclear agreement, then Parliament seems to have entered a lame duck phase. A sense of resignation has dawned on both the Treasury and Opposition benches about the inevitability of a mid-term poll. It was no surprise then, that both sides on Thursday refused to budge from their rigid positions on setting up a Joint Parliamentary Committee to go into the nuclear deal. The scheduled debate in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday was an obvious casualty. There is little likelihood that the Lok Sabha will be able to take up the debate on Monday. Â
The Government may be assuring its allies that the UPA-Left committee will find a way to resolve the political crisis, but the writing on the wall is clear. The Left leaders have started talking about the possibility of a mid-term poll early next year. So have senior-most Ministers in the Government. The corridors of Parliament are agog with speculation about the timing of the poll and anguished MPs are exchanging notes about their prospects.
The fallout of the India-US nuclear deal on the Muslims, who are bitterly opposed to the American intervention in Iraq and elsewhere, has emerged as a serious cause of concern for the Congress MPs, who hope that soon the Government will come up with major doles for its "captive vote bank".
Even political parties have begun to position themselves for mid-term polls, Parliamentary Affairs Minister PR Dasmunsi's accusation that the BJP was stalling in the House at the behest of someone in Chennai (read AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa) was more than enough hint of the Congress' worry about the nature of political churning in the Opposition camp.
Talking to newspersons Dasmunsi said: "I was told by influential quarters in the BJP that these (disruption) are happening because of some specific directions from Chennai. There is an invisible hand in this. They are being continuously advised to disrupt the House. I cannot disclose the name of the MPs who told me this."
When asked who he was referring to, Dasmunsi refused to take any names and said: "I hope against hope that they would convey to Chennai that enough is enough."
A senior Congress leader said: "We know for sure that BJP leaders like Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley wanted a debate but were brushed aside by Mr Advani because of Jayalalithaa." Claiming that the Congress was employing a wait-and-watch policy.
Dasmunshi's claims were debunked by BJP leaders who pointed out that the party had adopted a consistent position in opposing the deal and demanding that a JPC go into the India-US civilian nuclear agreement. "It is a figment of his imagination," said BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad.
But more than anything Dasmunsi underlined the bellicose mood of the Congress to take on the equally combative opposition head on. Such charges by a Minister who is supposed to coordinate with the Opposition for the smooth conduct of Parliament was seen as a clear message that the die was cast, and even the Congress was not interested in running the house , public posturing to the contrary notwithstanding .
Dasmunshi may be wide of the mark in claiming that the BJP was being dictated by the AIADMK leadership, but the fact remains that the AIADMK has sent subtle hints that it would not be part of any UNPA-Left combine in the event of mid-term polls.
But Dasmunshi did not spell out an equally discomforting development for the Congress. If the AIADMK was veering towards the NDA then the Left and some of the harshest critics of the Congress within the UNPA were also in the process of building bridges for the midterm polls.
With repeated disruptions by the Opposition, the speculation of a sine die adjournment has gained much momentum. Congress sources said that there is a strong possibility of an adjournment if such disruptions continued even next week. Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "Why don't you ask them (BJP) instead. The Congress party and the Government tried their best. Lets see what happens."
Sources said that the decision on a sine die adjournment would depend on the Opposition's conduct on Monday - the day the Lok Sabha is likely to debate on the nuclear deal. If the Opposition disrupts the House again, the Government could move for an adjournment. A senior Congress leader said: "This would clearly reflect their intentions. Then at least the Government would not be blamed for shying away from a debate on the nuclear deal."
Sources said that the BJP leadership has decided it was better to bring an early end to the Monsoon Session instead of entering into any compromise with the Government in running the Houses.
"What is the point in continuing with this farce? We know we are heading for midterm polls. Why should we legitimise the Left-Congress committee on the nuclear deal by taking part in the debate. After all the nuclear deal is not a family matter among two parties," said a senior BJP leader.
The NDA meeting on Thursday preceded by the BJP's Parliamentary Party meet decided against the debate on the deal if the JPC were not constituted. They rocked the two Houses to press for their demand, resulting in repeated adjournments.
A confident Sushma Swaraj of the BJP said that the Centre had no option but to agree to the reasonable demand of the Opposition for a JPC to look into their concerns with regard to the Indo-US civil nuclear co-operation. "The debate without a JPC is a trap, and we would not get into such a trap," she said.
"The Government has to concede to the Opposition demand. It took the Opposition over a fortnight to force the Government for a JPC on the Bofors kickback and the security scams," said Swaraj, the BJP's deputy leader in the Rajaya Sabha.
By refusing to buy the argument that the UPA had categorically rejected the JPC demand, she said that there was nothing categorical in Parliament. "It is a war of nerves. At times, the Government concedes to the Opposition as well. We do not consider the Government's response to be categorical," she said.
Since there is total unanimity among the NDA leaders over continuing their high-pitched attack on the UPA's total disregard for the House and the Opposition, there is hardly any scope for doubt that that they would accept anything less than a JPC to end the impasse. That too at a time when the UNPA leaders have implicitly thrown their weight behind the NDA on the JPC issue.
She said that both the Houses could debate the deal after the JPC submits its report, and termed the UPA-Left mechanism as a family welfare committee (FWC). "The FWC would not do. We want the Nation Welfare Committee that is the JPC," she said, giving the UPA strategists the liberty of having a majority on the committee.
Senior leaders attended Thursday's NDA meet chaired by LK Advani and would meet again on Friday morning to chalk out their next course of action. As the Government is 'continuously holding talks with the allies and other groups,' the NDA would favour working out their strategy on a daily basis. "Tomorrow's strategy would be discussed tomorrow," Swaraj said.
Advani in the BJP and NDA meetings blamed the UPA Government for the current imbroglio in the Houses, stating that the Centre's attitude was in contempt of Parliament and reiterated that they would not allow such things to happen. "The Opposition must be heard. Their concerns about the nuclear deal must be properly addressed," he said in the two meetings.
Stating that there was no need for any 15-member mechanism when the UPA-Left alliance already had the co-ordination committee where they discuss a plethora of issues, Swaraj said the Government should have immediately accepted the JPC demand.
"Earlier the Government did not agree to have a discussion on the deal under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha, which involved voting. We wanted a similar discussion in the Rajya Sabha as well. Now they are rejecting the JPC demand without citing any reasons," Swaraj added.
If it (the committee) is not binding, then what is it for. To have a cup of tea?
-- Gurudas Dasgupta (on Kapil Sibalâs statement that the UPA-Left committeeâs suggestions were not binding on Government)
The agreement is not acceptable to the majority in Parliament. We can all tell the Government, don't proceed (with the deal). And I don't see why the BJP cannot take that position
-- Prakash Karat
NDA has converted itself into Never Do Anything Opposition You have before you the National Disruptive Alliance. They have become habitual offenders
-- Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress spokesman
Of course, it is my job to save the Government. It is my additional responsibility to carry my supporters so that the Government continues
-- Pranab Mukherjee (On BJPâs charge that the committee was a way to save the Government)
The UPA-Left mechanism is a family welfare committee (FWC). The FWC would not do. We want the Nation Welfare Committee, that is, the JPC
-- Sushma Swaraj, BJP spokesperson<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->