Parliament remained on the boil for the third consecutive day on Thursday despite reports of an understanding reached between the government and the BJP-led Opposition on the black money adjournment motion issue.
The BJP had conceded the government’s demand for a change in the wording of the adjournment motion. The phrase “due to the government’s failure” was changed to “situation arising out of...” by the BJP.
The issues that rocked both Houses on Thursday were price-rise and Telangana.
In the Lok Sabha, the Telangana issue was raised by Congress MPs from Andhra Pradesh in favour of its creation as well as TRS supremo K. Chandrashekhar Rao and Vijayashanti who trooped into the Well of the House. Slogan-shouting, sit-ins in the Well and walkouts led to two adjournments in the Lok Sabha and three in the Rajya Sabha.
In the LS, while pro-Telangana Congress MPs brandished placards and shouted slogans seeking the introduction of the Telangana Bill in Parliament, those from the SP, BSP, BJP, Left, and RJD MPs drew attention to the rising prices. BJD MPs joined the chorus of protest as they sought “special category status” for flood-ravaged Odisha.
Protesting MPs refused to leave the Well even though Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj assured them that she supported their demands and that they should allow a discussion on price rise.
Members were not ready to listen to parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal who was explaining how food inflation has come down.