House logjam: BJP says Oppn to blame

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 7

With the Opposition sticking to its demand for discussion on demonetisation under Rule 184 (debate with voting) in the Lok Sabha and continuous presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the debate on the issue in the Rajya Sabha, the ruling BJP further hardened its stance.

Accusing the Opposition of “shifting goal posts” and praising people for their support on demonetisation, the party today tried to shift the entire onus of non-functioning of Parliament on its rival, primarily the Congress, the Left and the TMC.

Though later in the Lok Sabha, a visibly agitated veteran leader LK Advani virtually stumped his party’s efforts when he was seen expressing his distress with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar over the way proceedings were being conducted by his department and the Speaker.

Senior BJP leaders tried to gloss over Advani’s open show of displeasure over the situation in Parliament, terming it a reaction of “pain and anguish” experienced by a senior Parliamentarian over the prevailing situation, but this isn’t the first time the veteran has left the party red-faced.

Today’s moment in fact coincided with the BJP’s strategic passing of a resolution in its weekly parliamentary party meeting, welcoming people’s support to demonetisation despite the difficulties they were facing and condemning the Opposition for its actions.

The Prime Minister appealed to the Opposition to allow Parliament to function and also criticised their “undemocratic” behaviour of not allowing a debate on the demonetisation issue even as the “major reform” exercise had the support of the people.

“The Prime Minister thanked the people of the country for supporting him. The way the Opposition parties are trying to change the goal post and disrupt Parliament is undemocratic,” Ananth Kumar later said, adding Modi was ready to reply in both Houses.

In the past, Parliament had debated a number of government decisions, which had caused tensions and social conflict, but it was being stalled by rival parties over a “constructive decision” like demonetisation, he added.

“Opposition parties were doing so for no valid reason and as part of a political agenda. We have made it clear that the Prime Minister will speak in both Houses but they keep changing the goal posts,” he added. “Janshakti (people’s support) is with the government on demonetisation. What some Opposition parties are doing is undemocratic and the issue should be debated in Parliament,” the minister said.

Overall, the message that the party tried to send today was whereas the government was trying its best to convince the Opposition to be part of a constructive debate on the issue, it was being continuously stonewalled by its rivals.

Regarding their reservations on holding a debate under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha, especially when the BJP had sufficient numbers there, BJP leaders said the decision to hold the debate  under Rule 193 was taken by the Speaker.