Oppn,Govt spar over thin attendance in Lok Sabha

The Opposition sought to make an issue of absence of a cabinet minister in the Lok Sabha during the debate on Union Budget.

The Opposition and the Government on Friday took swipes at each other over absence of Ministers and members in the Lok Sabha during the debate on Budget.

The Opposition sought to make an issue of absence of a cabinet minister in the Lok Sabha during the debate on General Budget 2010-11 alleging that it showed the Government’s casual approach to Parliament.

As former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha raised the issue,Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj joined him in pointing out the thin attendance in the treasury benches.

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“A serious discussion on the Budget is on but there are hardly any members in the treasury benches. This shows how serious they are regarding the issue”,Swaraj said amid cries of “shame,shame” from the opposition side.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy said Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal would be back in the House within a few minutes.

Bansal was soon back in the House and another Cabinet Minister Vayalar Ravi also rushed in.

Another BJP member also pointed to thin attendance in Treasury benches during the course of the debate.

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But,soon the Government found an opportunity to hit back.

As Mangni Lal Mandal (JD-U) rose to speak,Narayanasamy entered the House and drew his attention to thin presence of BJP members when the House was discussing an “important issue”.

However,Harin Pathak (BJP) was quick to react and told Narayanasamy that it was duty of the Government to listen to the Opposition. “Our presence does not matter. You have to listen to the Opposition,” he said.