All eyes are now on finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, considered UPA’s troubleshooter, to ensure a smooth Budget session.
The session is under threat with the Opposition sticking to its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam. Major political players will attend a crucial all- party meet convened by Mukherjee on Tuesday.
The arrest of former telecom minister A. Raja has given the Opposition, which views it as an 'admission of guilt’ and justification for a JPC probe into the scam, more reason to stand its ground. But while the BJP has stuck to its “no JPC, no session” stand, Left parties have made it clear that the government’s gamble of portraying their stand as one akin to the saffron party would cut no ice.
The Left leaders, however, said they were eager to listen to what the government says on the impasse. “We do not know if the government has a new proposal. We will take a decision after listening to Mukherjee at the meeting. But we are all for a JPC and the government should accept it,” CPI leader D. Raja said.
The communists stress that the ball is in the government’s court. “Making the House function is the government’s call now. If it remains obdurate as before, it would be accountable for making Parliament function,” CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said. “The arrest of Raja and findings of the Shivraj Patil committee only reinforce the demand for a JPC investigation,” he said.
Asked if the Left was ready to discuss the need for a JPC probe in the House, Yechury said there was no such proposal from the government. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has held three rounds of talks, including one on Monday, with party leaders to ensure a smooth Budget session. But her efforts haven’t paid off.
Although opposed to the JPC, the Congress is pinning its hopes on a debate in Parliament to decide on the demand. The NDA wants the JPC’s probe to have a wide canvas so as to include the 2G, Adarsh and Commonwealth Games scams.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/upa-looks-to-pranab-ahead-of-budget-session.html
The session is under threat with the Opposition sticking to its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam. Major political players will attend a crucial all- party meet convened by Mukherjee on Tuesday.
The arrest of former telecom minister A. Raja has given the Opposition, which views it as an 'admission of guilt’ and justification for a JPC probe into the scam, more reason to stand its ground. But while the BJP has stuck to its “no JPC, no session” stand, Left parties have made it clear that the government’s gamble of portraying their stand as one akin to the saffron party would cut no ice.
The Left leaders, however, said they were eager to listen to what the government says on the impasse. “We do not know if the government has a new proposal. We will take a decision after listening to Mukherjee at the meeting. But we are all for a JPC and the government should accept it,” CPI leader D. Raja said.
The communists stress that the ball is in the government’s court. “Making the House function is the government’s call now. If it remains obdurate as before, it would be accountable for making Parliament function,” CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said. “The arrest of Raja and findings of the Shivraj Patil committee only reinforce the demand for a JPC investigation,” he said.
Asked if the Left was ready to discuss the need for a JPC probe in the House, Yechury said there was no such proposal from the government. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has held three rounds of talks, including one on Monday, with party leaders to ensure a smooth Budget session. But her efforts haven’t paid off.
Although opposed to the JPC, the Congress is pinning its hopes on a debate in Parliament to decide on the demand. The NDA wants the JPC’s probe to have a wide canvas so as to include the 2G, Adarsh and Commonwealth Games scams.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/upa-looks-to-pranab-ahead-of-budget-session.html
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