The government appears to have won Round One in its battle against the Opposition campaign on the price rise issue, with the non-UPA parties beating a hasty retreat, and even the BJP-led NDA agreeing Sunday to attend Monday morning’s all-party breakfast meeting convened by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha.
The BJP had earlier appeared adamant on insisting on a discussion with voting in both Houses, to which the government was vehemently opposed.
BJP members had already given a notice for discussion under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha and Rule 168 in the Rajya Sabha, both of which entail voting.
On Sunday, however, top NDA leaders discussed a government proposal for discussions without voting, and finally agreed to attend Monday’s meeting.
The BJP realised that if it did not, it would get isolated in Parliament as most parties, including the Left, BJD, TDP, SP, BSP, RJD and even NDA ally Janata Dal (U), wanted to take part in parliamentary proceedings after the week-long impasse.
Neither the BJP nor the Left have so far managed to corner the government on any issue, including that of rising prices, despite the impact of the recent Bharat Bandh.
The BJP said that, if invited, it would attend Mr Mukherjee’s breakfast meeting on Monday to break the logjam over the price issue.
“We have already given a notice under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha and Rule 168 in the Rajya Sabha, which entail voting, for Monday. But if invited, we will attend the breakfast meeting proposed by Mr Mukherjee,” said BJP Rajya Sabha deputy leader S.S. Ahluwalia.