The government was in the Opposition’s firing line in the Lok Sabha, which was rocked on Tuesday by the Commonwealth Games, Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society and 2G spectrum scams. The government further embarrassed with the Opposition saying the resignation of Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan was not enough and that a thorough probe into the housing scam was needed.

While the Opposition, led by the BJP, CPI(M) and JD(U), launched a strident attack on the government within and outside the House, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters outside Parliament that the government is willing to discuss all issues with the Opposition parties.
Ironically, his remarks came shortly after the Maharashtra CM was forced to put in his papers following continuing embarrassment for the Congress over the Adarsh Housing Society scam in which some of Mr Chavan’s relatives, including his mother-in-law, had managed to get a flat allotted.
While the Opposition allowed Lok Sabha proceedings to continue without forcing either an adjournment or staging a walkout, it did succeed in putting the government on the mat on the issue on Tuesday.
It was the CPI(M)’s Basudeb Acharia who first raised the issue of scams during Zero Hour by mentioning the 2G spectrum allocation scandal and the Commonwealth Games and Adarsh Housing Society scams. In the case of the Adarsh scam, Mr Acharia noted that the land was meant for allotment to widows of armed forces jawans martyred during the Kargil war and wondered how some of the flats had gone to former Army Chiefs. “How did this happen? How were rules and regulations violated? There is a need for a thorough probe into this,” said Mr Acharia, adding, “Political bosses should be punished.”
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj then lashed out at the government, remarking, “Yeh sarkar bhrashtachar mein doobi hui hai (This government is steeped in corruption).” She said there were scams even in government schemes like the MGNREGA and construction of national highways.
With her accusations leading some agitated Treasury bench MPs to rise on their feet and protest her remarks, Ms Swaraj retorted, “What have I said that is prompting the ruling benches to get so agitated?”
At this point, parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Bansal stood up and said, “What a threat you’re always giving... what a threat... that you won’t let Parliament run.” Ms Swaraj then responded, “To allow Parliament to run is the responsibility of both the Treasury benches and the Opposition... If there are scams, won’t we speak? ... A detailed discussion should be allowed on the scams.”
With her speech being repeatedly disrupted by the Treasury benches, an angry Ms Swaraj asked: “Can’t we raise the issue of corruption even in the House? If the House is not being allowed to function, it is not the Opposition but the ruling party which is to be blamed.”
A little later, Mr Acharia remarked, “How democracy is being bought and sold should also be discussed.”
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav also slammed the government on the scams while supporting Ms Swaraj, Mr Acharia and Mr Mulayam Singh. Remarking that corruption is a “bimari (disease)” in the country, the JD(U) leader demanded a discussion on corruption in the Lok Sabha.
Outside Parliament, the BJP dubbed as an “eyewash” the Congress’ decision to accept Mr Ashok Chavan’s resignation and to strip Mr Suresh Kalmadi of the post of Congress Parliamentary Party secretary.