BJP blames Congress for Parliament deadlock

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 13

The BJP today blamed the Congress for the prevailing impasse in Parliament, terming it “anti-democratic”. 

“The Congress continues to have contempt for democracy as during Emergency and is running away from a debate on the PNB scam as it feared that many skeletons in its cupboard would tumble out,” said Union Minister Ananth Kumar. 

The government was talking to various parties to break the prevailing deadlock in the resumed Budget session that ends on April 5, Kumar said, briefing on the BJP parliamentary party meeting this morning.  He also made light of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s dinner invite to Opposition parties. “Her dinner politics will be only about dinner while the BJP under PM Narendra Modi will emerge a winner with more allies,” he said.

With no sign of resolution to the ongoing Parliament impasse, there is speculation that the government may truncate the session, just after getting through the 2018-19 Finance Bill. Notably, the Lok Sabha could not take up the crucial Bill due to unabated protests for the seventh consecutive day today.

BJP leaders, who deny the possibility of shortening the session, quoted the number of important Bills that the government would like to be cleared in the ongoing session. The passage of legislations such as the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, the OBC Bill, the Triple Talaq Bill, the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill and the State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill are high on agenda, they say, adding that the BJP has also issued a whip to its members to ensure maximum presence of its members in Parliament this week. 

“It is true that all parties are in the 2019 election mode which is the chief cause of protests on the floor of the Houses. However, there is important legislative business which needs to be cleared,” they say.