Opposition set to keep the heat on

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will land in Delhi tomorrow amid a political conflagration. Indicating that Parliament would be allowed to run following resignation of Union Minister Natwar Singh, BJP said it would seek renewed and "intense" discussions on the matter in the House.

"We would want a fresh intense discussion in Parliament following Natwar Singh's resignation", party Spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told Sahara TV channel.

He said Natwar Singh was only being made a "sacrificial lamb" and that it seemed that UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi "was also involved. The Congress Party should clarify on her role.

Only a member has resigned but the Chief (sardar) is still there", Naqvi said in reply to a query.

The Opposition's strategy is to now target both Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. A hint to this effect was given today by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief LK Advani in Ghazipur, where he is touring riot-hit areas following the death of BJP legislator Krishnand Rai.

Advani said. "The Volcker committee's revelations have brought disrepute to the country as beneficiaries of the international scam are running the government at the Centre."

Advani criticised the Prime Minister specifically for not seeking the resignation of K Natwar Singh much earlier, and accused him of "shielding" those whose names figured in the Volcker report. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would step up pressure for action against those allegedly involved in the oil-for-food scam, he told a gathering of party workers in Varanasi.

Corruption was adversely affecting governance and the Oppostion in Parliament would not allow the ruling parties to brush the issue under the carpet, he said.

Besides the Volcker issue, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the NDA also wanted the government at the Centre to discuss the Mitrokhin archives that has charged two frontline parties with recieving funding from the KGB.

However, the Congress is clear that it will not allow Gandhi's name to be drawn into the Volcker debate. Therefore, in the charges and countercharges on the floor of the House, Parliament is unlikely to do much business this week.

There is a lot on the agenda. World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations require to be discussed among political parties. Several Bills including the controversial Communal Violence Bill need to be passed.

The Prime Minister will have to make a statement about his visit to Russia. Although some Bills, mostly relating to the home ministry, were passed today amid a din, no meaningful debate can be expected.

For its party, the Congress aggressively turned on the Opposition for raising the Volcker issue.

"The Opposition has no other issue. For the first time in the history of Parliament, we have an Opposition which do not want to fight on political issues. They are too intensely embroiled in their internal fight," Ambika Soni, chairman of the AICC media department, told reporters.

Given the mood of both the Opposition and the treasury benches, a lot of heat is expected to be expended in Parliament tomorrow.