The all-party meeting called by the Government on Monday failed to break the stalemate in Parliament. The Congress and the Government stuck to their earlier stands with no breakthrough emerging in the meeting which was not attended by the Prime Minister. The ruling regime sought the Opposition to allow discussion which may be followed by a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the Congress remained adamant on resignations of three BJP leaders.
According to the BJP, barring the Congress all Opposition parties were willing to run the Parliament proceedings and discuss their respective issues.
At the meet, the Government dropped enough suggestion that Modi could intervene if there is a debate on the controversy involving External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who has been accused of helping ex-IPl chief lalit Modi obtain certain travel documents.
Parliamentary Afffairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the Government was ready for discussion. “I said that the Government is ready to discus all issues, made efforts to reach out. During last Session, I went to Sonia Gandhi’s house. I have no hesitation in talking to all leaders,” he told reporters. He said he can have another discussion with the Congress president if that will break the stalemate.
The Minister said it was unfair to accuse the Government of “arrogance” and cited examples of the BJP Government’s accommodation to the Opposition, particularly the Congress.
From Government side, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Home Minister Rajnath Singh too spoke during the discussion with the Opposition.
The Congress, left parties, BSP and JD(U) wanted the resignation of Ministers before the House debates the controversy allegedly involving the BJP Minister.
While in the meeting, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav reminded BJP that both parties together had stalled proceedings seeking resignation of Ministers during the UPA regime, BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra said there should be proper atmosphere to begin the debate.
In view of continued impasse, there are suggestions that Parliament should be adjourned sine die. “Yes, there are suggestions to this effect,” a BJP leaders said, adding it was upto the Congress “to decide whether it wants Parliament to function in the remaining Session”.