Both the Opposition and the government remained equally firm on Monday — the Opposition insisting that its adjournment motion on prices be taken up first thing on Tuesday morning and the government equally emphatic that such a motion must be related to a recent incident, which price rise was not.
With no meeting ground in sight, Tuesday in the Lok Sabha may well witness disruption.
The tussle over what kind of motion it should be was not surprising as an adjournment motion, if carried, would amount to censure of the government. In a short duration discussion, which the government wants, no votes are cast on any motion.
Bharatiya Janata Party leaders were confident that if an adjournment motion on prices was taken up, it would be difficult even for those parties which are friendly towards the United Progressive Alliance to vote against it.
Urgent issue
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj told journalists that almost all Opposition parties, including some otherwise friendly towards the government, were in agreement on the urgency of taking up the price rise issue. “We will give notice of an adjournment motion on the rise in prices of kerosene and LPG. The prices of these items were raised recently,” she said, indicating the government would not be able to argue that the subject was not one of recent occurrence.
It was a hint from the BJP that it would try to word the motion in a way that the Speaker would find it hard to reject.
However, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prithviraj Chavan was equally firm, saying the government was willing to discuss price rise as a short duration discussion but there was no question of accepting an adjournment motion as rules do not permit it.
Speaker's decision
It will be up to Speaker Meira Kumar to accept the adjournment motion or reject it if not found acceptable under rules. But given the mood of the Opposition, it is not likely to yield to any unfavourable ruling by the Speaker. The Opposition hinted as much. The result can only be disruption.
In the Business Advisory Committee meeting of the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition is reported to have decided to give notice for a discussion on price rise under Rule 168. Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury said his party would give notice of a discussion on price rise under several different rules, including the demand for suspension of question hour.
The Chair will have to take a decision on it on Tuesday morning.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi echoed the government view. The party had no problem discussing any issue, but this should be done under permitted parliamentary rules. He hoped the Opposition would not use the adjournment issue as an excuse to disrupt Parliament.
