Bharatiya Janata Party Parliamentary Party chairman L.K. Advani’s grandiose plans to make black money into a major issue in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, after his 38-day-long marathon rath yatra, came a cropper.
Mr Advani, sources disclosed, was hoping that after his nationwide Janchetna Yatra against black money, the issue would be raised in a big way in Parliament. However, the government dashed his hopes by making the BJP tone down on the language of the motion on black money and even by insisting on it not to press for a vote at the end of the discussion.
Sources disclosed Mr Advani had to give his consent to the government’s formula as other Opposition parties, including Left parties, had agreed.
The Left parties, which were initially supporting the BJP on the black money issue, pressed for an adjournment motion on the price rise issue, relegating black money to secondary position.
Other Opposition parties, including the BSP, SP and the BJP’s key ally JD(U), also insisted on discussing the price rise issue first. Now, the black money issue is likely to be pushed further down the priority list as Opposition parties, including the Left, BSP and the SP, are keen to take up the issue of FDI in retail sector in Parliament on Monday.