The Congress is considering the possibility of a joint resolution, expressing concern over price rise, in a bid to break the deadlock in Parliament.
With an aggressive Opposition stalling both Houses and no business transacted for the third working day of the monsoon session — barring approval of President's rule in Jharkhand amid chaotic scenes on Thursday — the ruling party began negotiations with it to end the impasse.
Indicating that a resolution, to which all parties would be signatories, was the way out, Congress sources said: “We expect [that] Parliament will begin functioning normally from Monday.”
The joint resolution, the Congress feels, will be a way of meeting the Opposition parties' demand halfway, though it clearly falls short of their plea for a discussion that entails voting — and an opportunity for them to put the government on the mat. Indeed, after they failed on Wednesday to get their adjournment motions on price rise accepted, the Opposition parties applied afresh for a discussion under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha, a rule that also entails voting. But that was unacceptable to the Congress, the sources said.
For the government, its accepting a joint resolution is an admission that there is a problem — of price rise — but it is a price it appears willing to pay to get Parliament back on track. For the Opposition, the increase in the prices of essential commodities is one of the few issues on which parties, ranging from the BJP to the Left, are united and they would therefore like the spotlight to remain on it for as long as possible.
But even as behind-the-scenes negotiations were on, the Congress continued to keep the pressure on the Opposition to accept the ruling of the Chairs.
Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said: “An indefinite boycott of Parliament after a ruling has been given is not justified. We believe that that these tactics are being employed by the BJP to divert attention from the Shahs and the Reddys; it is an attempt to prevent skeletons from tumbling out of their cupboard.”
