There seems to be no end to the Opposition’s boycott of Defence Minister George Fernandes with the Government stating today that it was ‘‘not agreeable’’ for any discussion on Tehelka expose now. Congress, on whose notice the discussion was to be listed in Rajya Sabha, stuck to its stand that there should a discussion in Lok Sabha too.The Left parties and Rashtriya Janata Dal have been against ‘‘surrendering’’ to Government’s terms to end the boycott. Both parties are allies of Congress, which is looking at the next general elections with a view to form a coalition government.The boycott, therefore, will continue tomorrow when Fernandes is scheduled to make a statement on the attack on Tanda army camp in Akhnoor. The Congress may also seek that in view of the importance of the issue, the statement be made by some other senior Cabinet minister instead of Fernandes.The Government today reiterated that there was no question of modifying the Opposition’s demand for a discussion in Rajya Sabha alone which was to end the boycott in both the Houses.Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, ‘‘What more can the Government do? Why should it take an initiative? The impasse had started from their side. We went out of our way to end it. What can we do if they are backing out.’’‘‘I rescheduled the Defence Minister’s statement to accommodate the Opposition who felt the boycott would be over this week. What more can I do?’’ she asked. On the Congress claim that they had always sought a discussion in both Houses, Swaraj said, ‘‘And I am saying they wanted it only in Rajya Sabha. Obviously one of us is lying. But I am also giving you the facts.’’ ‘‘The Government never wanted a discussion. What is the context of having a discussion on Tehelka now?’’ she asked. ‘‘And if they had wanted the discussion in both Houses, they should have told us initially,’’ she added.Earlier, BJP parliamentary party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra charged Congress with blackmail over the boycott of Fernandes. Malhotra said Congress, after agreeing to a debate on Tehelka issue in Rajya Sabha had gone back on its word. He said, ‘‘This kind of bullying and blackmailing will not work. They can continue the boycott, but work in Parliament will go on.’’
