UPA govt yields to Oppn, agrees to vote on price rise-

UPA govt yields to Oppn, agrees to vote on price rise

Debate in the Lok Sabha today

Faraz Ahmad & Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 2
The stand-off between the government and the main Opposition BJP ended today within two days of the commencement of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament with the government relenting to a discussion on price rise and inflation under Rule 184 entailing a division and the BJP agreeing to reword its notice from censuring the government to expressing concern over price rise and inflation.

After several rounds of negotiations, acknowledged both by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, the two sides agreed to discuss price rise under Rule 184, a major concession by the government and in exchange the BJP agreed to reword its notice to accommodate the government compulsions.

“Because there can be no disagreement in the House on expressing concern over price rise and inflation, sources said the government hopes the debate may end with a unanimous resolutions with all sides saying “Aye,” when called to vote.

The price rise debate tomorrow is expected to take place on the resolution under rule 184 moved by BJP member Yashwant Sinha. It’s text is likely to state: "Despite repeated discussions in the House, prices have failed to come down. Expressing concern over continuous rising prices, this House calls upon the government to take immediate effective steps to bring down prices and offer relief to the common man."

Several notices are pending with the Speaker on price rise and inflation. The Third Front comprising the Left, the BJD, the TDP, the AIADMK and the JDS had moved an adjournment motion and accused the government of ignoring them during these discussions. BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and NDA convener Sharad Yadav sought a discussion under Rule 184 of the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedures and Conduct which concludes with a vote.

From the government side Congress member from Andhra Pradesh K.S. Rao had posted a notice under Rule 193 expressing concern over price rise and inflation and calling upon the government to tackle it.

Even the Left today expressed reservations on the repeat of the past practice of the Speaker moving the resolution and the entire House passing the joint resolution. Favouring price rise debate under rules that permit voting, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said, "Last time also the Speaker moved an anti-inflation resolution in which the House called upon the government to take steps to curb prices. No steps were taken. In fact, the government raised the prices further by increasing petrol prices thrice in the recent months. A similar exercise this time is meaningless. We don't want a discussion without conclusion but one that will make the government accountable and list steps it must take immediately to curb price rise," Yechury said.

Similarly, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta complained that the government was giving an impression that India's polity was bi-polar. "The UPA is forcing bipolar political discussions on the country. But we are a multi-party nation and the Congress must not think they and the BJP alone can run the country."

In the process, BJP’s corruption issue has suddenly taken a back seat. Tomorrow while the Lok Sabha will discuss price rise and inflation, the Rajya Sabha will discuss terrorism and internal security with particular reference to the recent Mumbai blasts. There were indications that the discussion on corruption may also follow the same pattern which may avoid any acrimonious references from either side of the House.

Next week the Rajya Sabha will discuss price rise and inflation again under Rule 168 of the Rajya Sabha Rules, entailing a division and the Lok Sabha will discuss internal security and terrorism. Discussion on corruption has been put off to the third week, hinted government sources.