By TN Ashok
The monsoon session of Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha (Lower house) – Rajya Sabha (Upper house) was rocked through the week with virtually no official or legislative business being transacted. A defiant and unyielding Congress along with its allies CPI-M and Trinamool Congress (TMC) persisted with its demand for resignations of the External Affairs Minister Ms Sushma Swaraj and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan over the Lalit Modi and Vyapam issue with noisy protests in both Houses paralyzing its proceedings.
Tuesday and Wednesday last week however saw fortuitous peace as the Houses were adjourned for two days after paying tributes to the memory of former president APJ Abdul Kalam who died in Shillong suddenly after a heart attack on Monday evening. The week, rest of whatever was left, saw the now familiar uproar, a couple of brief adjournments and final adjournment for the day.
The last day of the week, that is Friday, saw some opposition members moving adjournment motions over the BJP leaders’ alleged links with former Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi and the Vyapam scam. An exuberance of placards were flagged by the members who occupied the well of the house near the speaker’s podium raising slogans like “Pradhan mantri jawab do (prime minister please reply)” and “We want justice”.
A visibly upset Speaker Sumitra Mahajan warned, “Do not carry placards. Otherwise, I will be forced to name you.”
Amidst the din, many papers were laid on the table of the house and Home Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement on the Gurdaspur terrorist attack. Even as Mr Singh made the statement, members returned to the Well of the House. Mr Singh then taunted the Congress members, saying they were not serious about terrorism. This saw a fresh round of vocal conflict between the treasury and the opposition benches.
When the House met after a brief adjournment, the leader of the Congress, Mr Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded expunction of certain comments made by the home minister.”The statement was made to divide the house and blame the Congress. Please expunge it,” he claimed. The Rajya Sabha also witnessed similar scenes all through the week.
The Congress, supported by some other opposition parties, persisted with their demand for the resignations of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Lalitgate and Vyapam scam.
On Friday morning, soon after the house mourned the death of its former member Sarada Mohanty and papers were laid on the table, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said he had received four notices for the suspension of business to take up discussion (on Lalitgate). Earlier also, I agreed to suspend business (on similar notice) but the motion was not moved. What is the point,” he asked and wanted to know if the Congress members were ready to move the motion.
Deputy leader of Congress Anand Sharma said that while the motions of the past were past, the ones moved now were independent motions. “We are well within our rights to bring motions and demand action,” he said and charged that the government had not been responding to the opposition demands.
The government showed its resoluteness and firmness in facing the thorny issues saying it was ready for discussion but there was no precondition or question of resignations being attached to the debate. As there was no meeting point, the stalemate continued.
The Houses met again today Monday and the houses were adjourned. The government is taking an all party netting to resolve the issue. One hopes that the opposition parties show a change of heart and the proceedings continue without interruptions.
