New Delhi, Aug 23: The standoff between Opposition and government over the CAG report on coal block allocation resulted in the wastage of the third consecutive day of Parliament today as BJP was unrelenting on its demand for resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha saw the repeat of scenes witnessed during the past three days, with Opposition members shouting slogans and storming the Well to press their demand, which the ruling side rejected.
No business could be transacted in either House as there were repeated adjournments, before the final one at 2 PM for the day.
Members of BJP, which has said it will not stop its protests till the Prime Minister resigns, spearheaded the slogan-shouting in both the Houses.
AIADMK members joined BJP in the demand in both the Houses. In the Lok Sabha, they trooped into the Well. Interestingly in the Rajya Sabha, JD-U member Sabir Ali, whose party has been favouring a debate on the issue instead of disruptions, also trooped into the Well with BJP members and shouted slogans.
He had yesterday told reporters outside Parliament that the issue should be discussed in Parliament as public money is involved in the running of the House.
Other members of JD-U—N K Singh and Shivanand Tiwari— remained seated when the BJP members raised slogans like “Yeh jo Congress ke chehre pe laali hai, Koyale ki dalali hai (The glow on the face of Congress is because of brokership in coal block allocation).”
Congress members countered the Opposition's slogan of ‘Pradhan Mantri Istifa Do (Prime Minister Resign)' by shouting Pradhan Mantri Zindabad (Hail the Prime Minister).
The Rajya Sabha saw three adjournments till 2 PM, while there were two adjournments in the Lok Sabha.
When uproar continued at 2 PM, the Houses were adjourned till tomorrow.
Law Minister Salman Khurshid alleged that the BJP was trying to hold the Parliament to ransom.
“Just somebody holding a gun to your head can't be acceptable”, said Khurshid referring to the BJP obstructing the house for the third day in succession.
“We have nothing to hide”, said Khurshid. “We are ready to a debate, but it's the BJP which is running away from the debate because they have shot themsleves in the foot and have realized that they will be put in a corner.”
“BJP members don't have the courage to face Parliament on this issue. We on our part, work to rule, according to our conscience. If we make mistakes, we are always ready to accept, but we can't accept anybody holding a gun to our head”, said the Law Minister.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, it was not an impasse, but stubborn attitude of the government which was paralysed parliament.
“The Prime Minister has been exposed as the kingpin (guru-ghantal) of scams”, said the BJP leader.
Another central minister Subodh Kant Sahay said, the opposition seems to be in a hurry. “Since 2004, they (BJP) never went in for discussion inside the House and always tried to stall”, he said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal said, he was hopeful the logjam would be over by Monday, as tomorrow, being a Friday, is generally marked for private members' business.
