The opposition blamed the Center for the unproductive winter session of Parliament. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the opposition was ready to resolve differences, but the BJP and the Center were not ready to hold discussions with the opposition.
Kharge alleged that the winter session began with 12 opposition MPs trying to manipulate the majority in the Upper House. The UPA has 68 members in the Rajya Sabha, 50 with opposition parties and two independents supporting the opposition. Thus, the opposition has the support of 120 MPs against the NDA’s 118. So he thought that if the bills were voted on, the government would be in a minority. That’s why he suspended 12 MPs without naming them. They were eager to prove majority at any cost,” claimed Kharge.
He said that the opposition was hoping that serious issues like farmers’ distress, unemployment, inflation and Chinese encroachment would be discussed. For this we had given many notices. “But on the first day of the session, they suspended 12 MPs, who are vocal and active. He flouted the rules and the constitution to suspend the MPs. BJP was not ready to end this impasse. He always said that suspended MPs should express regret. I was ready to express regret on behalf of 12 MPs, but BJP was not ready to accept this proposal. BJP wanted to pass all the bills without any discussion.
‘Government pressure’
He alleged that the government was pressurizing the Speakers of the House. He said that Chairman Venkaiah Naidu is the guardian of the House and he is helpless. “If I stood to raise an issue, he would have adjourned the house,” he said. They asked us to resolve the standoff amongst ourselves. But the government was not ready to accept it. Chowdhary said that important bills were disposed of in 20-25 minutes. The Center was spoiling its agenda and the opposition cannot be held responsible for the uproar in the House.
Congress chief whip Jairam Ramesh said the opposition tried to convey from November 29 that the suspension was unconstitutional. He justified the absence of the opposition from the proceedings, he said. “It was a collective decision taken by 15 opposition parties. We used to meet everyday at 9:45 am and decide what to do during the day. It was a collective decision. It was a consensual decision. This reflects our dismay at the continued suspension and reluctance of the government (Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, whose son Ashish Mishra is accused of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and farmers’ deaths). So, to use the language of the Speaker, suspension and lack of resignation is tantamount to despair,” he said.
,