It’s PM vs ex-PM this winter session

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 14

Winter chill caught up with the government and the Opposition today as both assumed hard positions on the eve of the winter session starting tomorrow until January 5.

After the customary pre-session meeting the government called, it was clear that the upcoming sittings will mainly witness uproars over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks about his predecessor Manmohan Singh after the latter attended a private dinner hosted by suspended Congress man Mani Shankar Aiyar and attended among others by a former Pakistan foreign minister and Pakistan High Commissioner.

Equally, the Opposition will flag “EC’s partiality to the BJP” and hasty disqualification of Sharad Yadav and Anwar Ali, both JD-U rebels, from the Rajya Sabha.

Congress’ Anand Sharma today spoke of the PM evading the Manmohan Singh issue at the meeting of political party leaders and said it was a very serious matter. “The PM was evasive. Grave aspersions were cast on the integrity of former PM Manmohan Singh. Because the PM said things, he owes an apology. Nothing less will satisfy us,” Sharma, deputy leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha, remarked.

The government responded, saying it was willing to debate anything and would present facts. “The government will explain facts. We hope the House runs. The PM today appealed to all parties for a productive session and spoke of the need for national consensus on one nation-one election issue,” Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said.

While the government has lined up 25 Bills, the Opposition wondered at the paucity of time for debate.

“The session is being held when it normally ends. It has been curtailed because this government is always in election mode. Their priority is election and not governance. We also want to ask the BJP why it remembers Pakistan on the eve of every election. The PM has accused Manmohan Singh of conspiring with Pakistan to impact Gujarat elections. He must give proof or apologise,” Azad said.

The joint Opposition raised concern over the Election Commission’s “partiality to BJP”, demanding action against the PM for violating the model code of conduct with his roadshow shown.

The Congress termed the EC a “puppet in BJP’s hands” today after the Commission yesterday issued notice of election code violation to party president-elect Rahul Gandhi.

“Inaction of the EC is shocking as it has failed to uphold its constitutional mandate under Article 324. Instead of acting against violations, the EC has allowed violations by the ruling party and has been indulgent in allowing the PM to dedicate submarine “Kalvari” on the day of the polls. The attitude of EC has cast an ominous shadow on its credibility and the integrity of the electoral process and this will be vehemently raised in Parliament,” a joint statement by nine Opposition parties — the Congress, NC, NCP, DMK, JMM, SP, TMC, RJD and the CPI — said today.