NEW DELHI, 26 July 2006 — Both Houses of Indian Parliament were witness to stormy scenes yesterday over opposition’s demand for a debate on the issue of the Bombay blasts and inflation. In Lok Sabha, the lower house, the Bharatiya Janata Party threatened to stall proceedings for the second day if the government did not agree to a discussion on adjournment motion regarding Bombay blasts.
Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee admitted the adjournment motion on the Bombay blasts for a discussion later in the day. Opposing the adjournment motion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.R. Dasmunshi said: “We oppose this adjournment motion. (BJP leader L.K.) Advani should not forget when there was an attack on Parliament, the then opposition leader Sonia Gandhi decided not to embarrass the Vajpayee government.”
Citing instance of Bombay blasts, Advani lashed out at the government for having failed to combat terrorism. He demanded a revival of the repealed Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) while initiating a debate on an adjournment motion on the blasts.
In Rajya Sabha, the extremist Shiv Sena party members staged a walkout when their demand for an immediate discussion on the blasts was not taken up. Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi raised the matter during Zero Hour, saying that if the “most important issue of terrorist attack” is not taken up first for discussion, “it will be very difficult for us to participate in a debate on any other issue.” However, as Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat chose to go ahead with listed business, Shiv Sena members, led by Joshi, staged a walkout.
The controversial Prevention of Disqualification (Amendment) Bill of 2006, popularly called Office-of-Profit Bill, was reintroduced in Rajya Sabha yesterday in its original form.
It is likely to be taken up for discussion today. Lok Sabha was also witness to the government blaming the United States for its rigid stance on farm subsidies and the collapse of World Trade Organization talks in Geneva.
Eight former union ministers may soon have to face the Central Bureau of Investigation on account of corruption charges against them. While replying to a written question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Manikrao Hodlya Gavit said that the CBI has sought permission from the government to file cases under the Prevention of Corruption Law against eight ministers in 27 cases.
