The Centre’s informal parleys with the Opposition to end the impasse in Parliament seem to have met with success and the Houses are likely to resume normal functioning by Monday.

Sources in the Opposition and in the ruling BJP have told BusinessLine that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address both Houses on the issue of demonetisation and that the Opposition may drop their demand for a discussion in Lok Sabha that entails voting.

A section in the Congress, however, is apprehensive that if Modi speaks in Parliament, the government can easily turn the debate in its favour. The BJP’s effort, on the other hand, is to avoid “personal” attacks against the Prime Minister on the issue.

A top Congress leader told BusinessLine that the party had received a communication from the BJP leadership of the PM’s willingness to end the deadlock.

“He is adamant about the (demonetisation) decision. He was present in the Lok Sabha today [on Wednesday]. He is willing to address both Houses…That is what we were told,” the senior leader said, requesting anonymity as the parleys with other Opposition parties were still ongoing. “Modi has done one good thing. He has ensured that the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M), the DMK and the AIADMK, the SP and the BSP come together for a common cause. It is Modi who made the ice-breaking possible,” he quipped.

‘The offer’

At a meeting of Rajya Sabha leaders too a discussion on Modi’s presence came up. “The deadlock will end on Monday,” a BJP leader said. When asked if the “offer” to the Opposition was the PM’s presence, he said “it was not even part” of the parleys. “Whenever the Prime Minister speaks, it comes out in favour of the Centre and the BJP,” he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar initiated the informal discussions with various Opposition leaders. “Nothing has been achieved by holding up parliamentary proceedings. Everybody feels there should be action against black money. The Opposition parties’ apprehensions are only about implementation of demonetisation; we have been saying that we are ready to listen to their concerns. I have again requested them to start discussions where they can express their view points on this issue, which government will listen and consider,” Kumar told reporters on Wednesday.

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