The Opposition made a valiant bid to corner the government on the price rise issue in both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, but Speaker Meira Kumar came to the rescue of the treasury benches in the Lok Sabha by ruling that the adjournment motion moved by the Opposition could not be admitted.
Her decision prompted Opposition MPs, led by the BJP and the Left, to force an adjournment of the Lok Sabha as came trooping into the well of the House soon after her ruling.
This was shortly after 2 pm when the House reconvened after lunch. It had been preceded by a 90-minute discussion in which the Opposition put up its case for an adjournment motion. The Rajya Sabha too could transact little business as the Opposition forced two adjournments, the second one at 12 noon for the rest of the day.
It is noteworthy, though, that while the BJP plans to continue disrupting Parliament, the Left parties do not as they want a discussion on “other burning issues” as well.
Leaders of the BJP and its NDA allies plan to meet President Pratibha Patil on Thursday morning and had over a memorandum to her. The NDA claimed the memorandum would have the signatures of “crores of people” hit by spiralling prices.