The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said it wants discussion in Parliament on the Food Security and Land Acquisition Bills and their passage but insisted that the government should first ensure smooth functioning of the House as such important legislation cannot be passed in the din.
Even as the government is on the back foot as anti-Telangana members from the Congress are disrupting Parliament, the BJP put the onus of smooth functioning of the House on the government and said it is ready to cooperate on passage of key Bills.
“BJP Parliamentary Party in its meeting today agreed that the House should function smoothly. Six hours each have been allocated to the Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition Bill. Both the Bills should be passed but after proper discussion,” Deputy Leader of BJP in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde said.
The party will also demand debates on the Uttarakhand floods, state of the economy especially in the wake of increasing devaluation of the Rupee and the dilution of norms for FDI in multi-brand retail.
The BJP Parliamentary Party discussed the Uttarakhand tragedy and government’s failure to provide timely and adequate relief and rehabilitation to the people stranded in the region.
“Our MPs have decided to donate funds from their MPLAD Fund but we will not give this to the state government.
Instead the funds will be given to specific projects undertaken in Uttarakhand,” BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said.
In the meeting, BJP leaders also discussed the Telangana issue and how the Congress took the decision in a hurried manner for electoral gains. The government is yet to take a decision on the issue as a Cabinet note prepared by the Home Ministry has not been placed before the Cabinet.
Mr. Munde said BJP also expressed concern over the frequent hike in petrol and diesel prices.
