Opposition plans to stall Parliament on price rise again

NEW DELHI: Parliament got off to a stormy start on the first working day of the monsoon session on Tuesday as a united Opposition vociferously protested against rising prices of essential commodities and demanded as top priority a debate on the issue.



The noisy protests by the adamant Opposition led to repeated disruptions and finally both houses were adjourned for the day.



\"On Wednesday also we will bring an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha and will not agree to a discussion under any other provision as we want voting on the issue. Only when there is voting will we know who is in favour and who is not,\" deputy leader of BJP in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde said.



In the Rajya Sabha, a notice for suspension of Question Hour under Rule 168 to discuss and vote on price rise will again be moved today by the BJP and other opposition parties.



\"Government wants to postpone discussion under an adjournment motion on price rise. We will ask the chair to decide what should be done. Till now the government has not formally rejected our demand for an adjournment motion and the Speaker\'s ruling is pending,\" Munde said.



The Opposition claimed it had discussed the strategy on \"floor level coordination\" with other political parties which want discussion and voting on the issue.



\"We are fully confident that almost entire opposition will be united on price rise. Samajwadi Party and RJD also want voting on this issue,\" Munde said.



As the government ruled out the opposition\'s demand for adjournment motions that entail voting, opposition MPs refused to let the houses function and threatened to repeat the action on Wednesday.



The government and its allies can count on 89 members and the opposition on 104 in the upper house. However, the swing votes of 51 members belonging to parties like the Samajwadi Party, the RJD and the BSP, as also smaller parties and independent and nominated members, could make a difference.



The three parties have, in the past, have sided with the government, but given the general anger over the price rise within and outside parliament, they could well decide to vote with the opposition to ensure the adjournment motion passes.



Since the voting is not on a money bill, the government would not have to resign if the motion is passed. It would, however, be a huge embarrassment for the government.



CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said the party was pressing for discussion on price rise in parliament under rules that entail voting to put pressure on the government to take measures that provide relief to the people.
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