The stand-off in Parliament continued on Tuesday, as both the Government and the Opposition stuck to their guns on the question of resignations of two Cabinet Ministers.
A meeting of the Congress core group decided not to adjourn the session sine die before the scheduled date, May 10. The party, which ruled out resignations of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal also decided to try to get the Food Security Bill passed in the Lok Sabha.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made it clear that it would not allow the passage of any legislation unless Bansal and Kumar were sacked from the Cabinet.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said it was the Government that was disrupting the proceedings of the House by taking an adamant stand to protect “corrupt” Ministers.
Back-room talks
Meanwhile, informal discussions were on between Congress and BJP leaders for ending the impasse. Sources in both the parties indicated that the Karnataka Assembly election results, which will be announced on Wednesday, and the Supreme Court’s stand on the Central Bureau of Investigation’s affidavit, which is likely to be pronounced on the same day, were likely to change the scenario in the House.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi is keen to see that the Food Bill is passed in this session. She reportedly also talked to the Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday on the issue. Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is also trying to ensure a debate on the Bill in Parliament. The Left parties, too, are in favour of a debate.
The Government has appealed to the Opposition parties to pass the Bill. “The UPA believes that hunger should be removed and food security be ensured. It is extremely sad and most unfortunate that certain sections of the Opposition believe that it is not hunger that should be removed, but it is the hungry who should be removed,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said.
However, the BJP said a debate on important legislations could be held only after the resignation of Bansal and Kumar.
“We want the National Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition Bill to be passed after proper discussion. We will not allow their hasty passage without discussion amid din,” Deputy leader of BJP in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde told reporters.