A united Opposition may not let the Rajya Sabha function for the third consecutive day on Friday even though the Government has agreed for a discussion on violence in Gaza and West Bank area of Palestine. The Opposition wants the discussion to be taken up first, while the treasury benches are keen for a debate on the Railway Budget, which according to them, has “technically started.”
The stalemate in the Rajya Sabha continued for the second consecutive day after the Government and Congress-led Opposition locked horns over the short duration discussion on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Opposition became more vociferous on its demand after Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari on Thursday turned down a request by Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj disallowing the discussion on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
On Wednesday, in a letter to Ansari, Swaraj said that a discussion on the topic could affect relations with Israel and Palestine, both being friends of India. She argued that rules do not permit discussion on a matter which is not primarily the concern of the Government of India and which refers to a friendly foreign country.
Ansari, however, rejected her request, saying: “I am unable to accede to the request of the Minister” and cited rules in favour of the notices given by the Opposition for a discussion. “I do not find any infirmity in the notices given by the leader of the Opposition and others,” he said.
Ansari added that since the discussion was already listed on July 16 and it could not be taken up on that day, rules provide it has to be given another day and time which has to be fixed in consultation with the leader of the House.While agreeing for a debate, leader of the House Arun Jaitley informed Ansari that the Government will communicate another date for it.
It is believed that the Government wanted to wait for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s return before going into discussion. Sources said Swaraj too will not be available in Delhi on Friday because she is visiting her constituency Vidisha.Since discussion on Railway Budget has “technically” started, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the House must not be deprived of a debate on it. “Heavens will not fall if we have discussion after two or three days. They are not going to stop fighting,” said a BJP member VP Singh Badnore.
With the House stalled for the second consecutive day, the treasury benches called for a Business Advisory Committee meeting to end the deadlock. Sources said the matter remained unresolved there too as the Government agreed for a discussion on Gaza on Monday after discussion on the Railway Budget while the Opposition kept insisting for Friday.
The matter was, however, not listed for Friday in the list of Business released by Rajya Sabha secretariat. The Opposition is unwilling to relent and determined to disrupt the proceedings.The Opposition demanded that the Gaza situation should be discussed immediately given the seriousness of the conflict there and its current relevance. “You have to give treatment immediately if someone suffers a heart attack. Innocent women and children were getting killed in Gaza. The topic for discussion is relevant for now,” said leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad.
He was strongly backed by SP, CPI, CPI-M and Trinamool members. JD-U leader Sharad Yadav said India shares historic links with West Asia and a debate in Parliament will send the right message to the international community.
The chaos led to adjournment for the day. But before that, Rajya Sabha witnessed sharp exchanges between the Opposition and AIADMK after its leader V Maitreyan remarked that the plight of Tamils in Sri lanka never came up even while some members were concerned over a situation in a “distant place.”
Keeping up the pressure on the Government, the Opposition including Congress, CPM and Samajwadi Party argued that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signed a declaration by BRICS condemning violence in Gaza, there was no reason for the Government to run away from the debate.
Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said the whole world is seized of the issue and even Prime Minister Modi is signatory to BRICS declaration which has condemned the attack on Gaza. “Even children below ten years of age have been killed there...Italy,Germany have condemned it. It is the sovereign right of Indian Parliament to discuss it,” he said. “The only reason for the Government to adopt such an attitude is that the BJP does not want to displease Israel and the US due to its political affinity with them,” he said.