Cong seeks Deputy Speaker’s post in LS

NEW DELHI, NOV 30: In view of the Congress having scored major victories in the recent Assembly elections, the party today demanded that ...

NEW DELHI, NOV 30: In view of the Congress having scored major victories in the recent Assembly elections, the party today demanded that the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker’s post be given to its nominee and senior party leader P M Sayeed. It also hoped the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government would support Sayeed’s candidature.

In parliamentary tradition, the main Opposition party got the Deputy Speaker’s post, Congress spokesman Ajit Jogi told reporters here and hoped the ruling coalition and other Opposition parties would unanimously support Sayeed’s candidature.

Meanwhile, the Congress would neither demand the Vajpayee Government’s resignation nor take the initiative to destabilise the BJP-led coalition, Jogi said. “We will not demand resignation of the Vajpayee Government, but it is up to the BJP-led coalition to do so,” he said.

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Asked whether the Congress would support other Opposition parties if they took the initiative in removing the Vajpayee Government, Jogi merely said, “We are a responsibleOpposition party and our stand is very clear on the issue.”

This was why the Congress had not sought a debate on the price rise under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha, which provided for voting. The Congress had given a notice for a special discussion under Rule 193, Jogi said.

The Congress would continue its tirade against the rising prices and press for a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha tomorrow, he said.

Spiralling prices had severely affected common people, and this was reflected in the Assembly election results in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Mizoram, he said, adding, “We will continue to raise the issue in the most effective manner and it will be our priority.”

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The issue must be discussed threadbare to expose the nexus between the Central Government and profiteers, blackmarketeers, hoarders and adulterators, he said, adding, “We want the nation to know about this nexus, which has caused the rate of inflation to go up from four to nine per cent in recent months.”

He said in Stateswhere its party was elected, tough measures would be initiated and pressure brought upon the Centre, to curb prices.