Journalism of Courage
The remaining part of the Monsoon Session of Parliament looks set for a washout with BJP adamant on resignation of the Prime Minister,though it stands isolated among opposition parties,many of whom favour a debate instead of disruption.
Within NDA too,crucial constituent JD-U is uneasy with BJP’s stiff stand due to which Parliament has already lost one full week.
BJP sources said the party will not give up its stand on seeking Manmohan Singh’s resignation and will not allow Parliament to function even if has to stand alone.
The party has convened a meeting of its leaders tomorrow to chalk out further strategy.
Earlier,an NDA meeting was planned tomorrow but since BJP sensed that all allies were not on board it did not go ahead with the proposed meeting.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj also sought to rope in support of other opposition parties including the Left on its demand for Singh’s resignation and disruption of Parliament but failed.
Confirming this,CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta criticised the BJP for its stiff stand and for stalling Parliament and said it was “unfortunate” as it “undermined” Parliamentary democracy and weakened the national unity against corruption.
Other opposition parties like TDP and BJD are also not in favour of going with BJP on its stand. SP and BSP too want a discussion rather disruption.
The government wants Parliament to function so that the Prime Minister could make a statement. But if Parliament fails to function,the Prime Minister could send out a message to the country through a televised address or use some other opportunity to clarify through the media his stand on the CAG report on coal block allocation.
The Prime Minister is also geared up to rebut the charges,contending that there were “inaccuracies” in the “misleading” assessment of loss of Rs 1.86 lakh crore. In a six-point response,which he is unable to present in Parliament due to stalemate caused by the Opposition,he would be citing that Chhattisgarh,West Bengal,Rajasthan,Odisha and Jharkhand,all ruled by non-UPA governments,had opposed in 2005 the Centre’s move to bring a legislation on auction process.
