Against the backdrop of Parliament not being able to function smoothly, a group of about 10 Opposition parties on Tuesday alleged that the Government was not interested in running the House and wanted to “bypass” legislative scrutiny.
The Congress alleged a “conspiracy” aimed at avoiding discussion on crucial issues including the bank scams. Tuesday was the 12th day in a row that Parliament has not functioned and the current stalemate has entered the third week.
leaders of Congress, TMC, BSP, SP, NCP, DMK, CPI, CPI-M and JMM discussed the crisis in the chamber of leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad. Azad said while opposition parties wanted various issues of national importance to be discussed in Parliament, the government showed no inclination of reaching out to the opposition to resolve the current impasse.
“The entire opposition holds that the Government is responsible for the impasse and for not taking any interest in the functioning of Parliament. So, they are running away from the issues. The government is running away from debate. They, as a matter of fact, do not want to discuss the issues; they are very scared of the bank scam. They are very much scared. They know that they have no face to face the public of India and are scared to discuss this issue on the floor of House. They are not interested in running or in functioning of the House,” Azad said.
Azad said the unanimous stand taken by the opposition parties was conveyed to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, who was requested that on behalf of the entire opposition, he be allowed to speak in the House.