The government appears to have foiled the Opposition’s plan to compel it to go in for a floor test in the Lok Sabha on the issue of price rise with the NDA and the ruling UPA agreeing to discuss this issue in a joint resolution on Wednesday.
The Opposition has been keen on voting on the issues of price rise and corruption with the calculation that a trial of strength would expose the government and the fence-sitters.
But government floor managers have finally succeeded in convincing the Opposition, especially the BJP-led NDA, to hold a meaningful debate.
“The prices of essential commodities will not come down even after a discussion in Parliament,” viewed UPA insiders.
The resolution, which will express the feelings of the House, will call upon the government to take immediate steps to check the rising prices of essential commodities. Yashwant Sinha (BJP), Sharad Yadav (Janata Dal-U) and K.S. Rao (Congress) will move the resolution.
The discussion will begin after Question Hour and will be replied to by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee during the day.
The UPA and its managers in the government in their confidence have not issued a whip asking MPs to remain present in the House after realising that there would be no voting on the motion even if it is discussed under Rule 184, which entails voting, in the Lok Sabha.
The Left, AIADMK, BJD and TDP have given notices for adjournment motions in both Houses of Parliament for discussions on price rise and corruption under rules that entail voting.
Floor managers are confident that a discussion on corruption will take place in the Lok Sabha in the coming days but it will see no voting because the issue can damage the main Opposition BJP equally.
Lokpal on Thursday
Lokpal Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said. He said minister of state for personnel V. Narayanasamy has given a notice to Speaker Meira Kumar to waive the two-day period.