After a week of acrimony with no business or discussions held ever since the Winter Session of Parliament started last week, the Opposition and Treasury benches on Monday are believed to have resolved to break the deadlock, and “work for smooth functioning,” until a fresh provocation is bulldozed from either side.
On a day when a group of Parliamentarians, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, watched a special screening of the Bollywood movie ‘The Sabarmati Report’ in the Annexe, leaders from both the sides came close to breaking the impasse in Parliament with a discussion on the Constitution to mark its 75th year of adoption.
The breakthrough came at a meeting of Speaker Om Birla with floor leaders of different parties. The Opposition parties had demanded discussions in both Houses of Parliament to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly. Several Opposition leaders, who attended the meeting, also echoed similar sentiments. The Congress said that the Modi Government has accepted its request for a special two-day discussion on the Constitution and hopefully now it will “allow both Houses to function”.
The meeting chaired by Birla was attended by Gaurav Gogoi of the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) TR Baalu and Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) Kalyan Banerjee among others besides Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and his deputy in the ministry Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed confidence that both Houses will function smoothly from Tuesday. Sources said the Lok Sabha will take up the discussion on the Constitution to mark its 75th year of adoption on December 13 and 14, and the Rajya Sabha on December 16 and 17. Asked about the Opposition raising other issues such as Sambhal violence and Manipur, Rijiju said a decision will be taken in accordance with the rules.
Congress said the Modi Government has accepted its request for a special two-day discussion on the Constitution and hopefully now it will “allow both Houses to function”. The party alleged the Government does not want Parliament to function as it is “running away” from a discussion on issues such as Adani indictment, Sambhal violence and Manipur unrest.
Proceedings in both Houses were adjourned for yet another day on Monday amid protests by Opposition members over the Adani indictment row, recent violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal and other issues.
While Congress led Opposition sought for an official announcement of dates for the desired discussion including that on the Constitution before agreeing to the resumption of regular parliamentary proceedings, Samajwadi Party has asked to raise the Sambhal issue and the TMC will raise the Bangladesh crisis in the Lok Sabha.
However, sources in the Government said that the Congress will not be allowed for specific discussion on the Adani controversy but they shall not object if the Opposition members may indicate about it in the midst of any debates. Congress has been persistent in raising the issue of the indictment of US prosecutors of Adani Group chairperson Gautam Adani and other company officials on bribery and fraud charges.
The BJP on the other hand has projected the main Opposition party as the principal violator of constitutional norms and spirit when it was in power, asserting that the Modi Government has strengthened constitutional practices and principles during its over 10-year tenure.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh recalled that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had written to Speaker Om Birla on November 26, requesting a special two-day discussion on the Constitution and the leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha had also written a similar letter to the chairman the same day. “Hopefully now the Modi Government will allow both Houses to function from tomorrow,” he said.
