New Delhi, Feb. 23: Parliament was adjourned over the price rise issue after the government did not concede the Opposition’s demand for a discussion under rules that allow voting.
Both Houses were adjourned for the day as Opposition members from the BJP, Shiv Sena and Left, as well as the Samajwadi Party and RJD, rushed to the Wells raising anti-government slogans.
While the Opposition demanded the admission of an adjournment motion on the price rise issue in the Lok Sabha, they wanted a debate under a rule that allows voting in the Rajya Sabha. The government is in a minority in the Upper House.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who was introduced by Speaker Meira Kumar on Tuesday, said an adjournment motion would reflect the seriousness of the price rise issue. Refuting Ms Swaraj’s plea, parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said, "We are ready to discuss any issue on the floor of the House but the rules do not permit an adjournment motion on price rise."
Rejecting Mr Bansal’s offer of a discussion under Rule 193, Ms Swaraj said several debates in the 14th Lok Sabha had failed to have the desired effect on the government. There was an uproar when Mr Bansal said state governments were primarily responsible for implementing laws like the Essential Commodities Act and those relating to the public distribution system (PDS) and hoarding of food items to control price rise. SP and RJD members rushed to the Well while the Left and BJP members stood up in protest.
Speaker Meira Kumar tried to pacify the agitated Opposition but had to adjourn the House twice, till noon the first time and later for the day. Ms Kumar lamented that the House could not take up the debate on price rise and said the issue affected the common man. "I wanted that the House to discuss the matter. But proceedings were disrupted over the rule under which the debate should take place. Disrupting the House over the rule, and not debating the subject, also dismays the public. I hope in future all respected members and leaders of parties will ensure smooth functioning of the House," the Speaker said outside Parliament.
"Price rise is an issue that has put people in distress and (they) want a solution to it. It is, therefore, the responsibility of Parliament to debate the subject and deliberate on ways to find a solution," she said. The Speaker said she was "concerned" because deliberations on the topic could not take place. "The discussion on the rule could not be completed," she added.
While RJD MP Raghuvansh Prasad Singh expressed concern on the issue out of turn, SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said price rise was a serious challenge. He said a large number of people will not be able to celebrate the coming festival of Holi due to the high prices of food items.
The Rajya Sabha witnessed an adjournment barely after 15 minutes after it assembled for the day. It was later adjourned for the day. Though the Rajya Sabha was to take up the issue as a short duration discussion, as decided in the business advisory committee on Monday, the Opposition said the issue affected the common man and the government had failed to check rising prices. A "sense of the House" was needed to ascertain the gravity of the situation arising from spiralling prices of essential commodities, said the Opposition.
Soon after JD(U) member Anil Kumar Sahani took the oath as a new member of the Upper House, the entire Opposition was on its feet seeking a discussion under a rule that entails voting. The Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House, Mr Arun Jaitley (BJP), said the BJP had given two notices — one for the suspension of Question Hour to take up the issue, and the second for a discussion under Rules 167 and 168, a demand rejected by the Treasury benches. The BJP was joined by other NDA members as well as members of the Left parties, RJD and Samajwadi Party in demanding a discussion under Rules 167 and 168.
But Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari said there was a consensus to have discussion but not on the procedure. An unsatisfied Opposition got to its feet seeking a discussion under Rules 167 and 168. Dr Ansari adjourned the House till noon.
When the House re-assembled, the Opposition persisted with its demand for a discussion entailing voting, leading to deputy chairman K. Rahman Khan adjourning the Upper House for the day.
After both Houses were adjourned for the day, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "The government has never run away from discussion, nor will it ever do so. The UPA government has been very sensitive on the issue of price rise and has taken constructive steps to mitigate the woes of the people following the drought."
Reacting to the Opposition demand, he said Parliament runs under well established rules and the parliamentary affairs minister had already made clear that what the Opposition wants is not permissible under the rules.
Accusing the Opposition of politicising the price rise issue, Mr Tewari asked how many Opposition MPs were present in the House in the Winter Session last year when a discussion was taking place on price rise and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar was giving his reply. "They (Opposition) are trying to complicate matters. The motion of thanks on the President’s address entails voting. The Budget also entails voting after a discussion on the micro-economic situation of the country," said Mr Tewari, adding, "The rules are time-tested. All the government is saying is bring the motion in the prescribed rules and it will accept them."
Age Correspondents