Mulayam asks Congress to check ministers

Although all political parties agree in private that there should be no impediment to smooth and orderly functioning of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, this may not actually happen in the winter session of Parliament beginning on December 1.

The BJP and NDA have already said that they will put forward their arguments "aggressively, offensively and assertively" in Parliament.

And today, at the lunch hosted by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to set the tone for the session, the Samajwadi Party told the United Progressive Alliance government to "rein in its minister" and not take SP's support for granted.

SP leader Mohan Singh told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who participated in the two-hour long meeting, that it was Government's responsibility to ensure discipline in Parliament and to rein in its ministers.

Referring to the attack made by union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh of the RJD on his colleague Ramvilas Paswan of the LJP accusing him of "harbouring dacoits", he regretted that the prime minister had failed to "rein them"

The SP leader gave enough indication that the party's posture would be tough towards the Congress-led coalition by noting that his party had given issue-based support to the government and it should function in a proper manner.

He suggested that the manner in which the coalition was treating his party showed that the UPA felt that the SP support was "out of political compulsion".

The meeting presided by Rajya Sabha chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was attended among others by the prime minister, Parliamentary Affairs minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former Deputy Prime minister LK Advani.

"Everybody assured that both houses would run properly and the meeting was held in a cordial and excellent atmosphere. The general view is that there should be normal functioning of Parliament," Chatterjee said.

Some leaders present said this was wishful thinking. The Parliament session they said, was going to be turbulent from the word go.

Opposition did not rule out the issue of arrest of Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati being raised in parliament with Anant Gite (Shiv Sena) saying that the Centre cannot wash off its hands on the matter on the grounds that it is a state subject.

"Everyone has agreed that Parliament should function smoothly and the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere," Advani said.

Echoing his leader's views, party spokesman VK Malhotra said "opposition should get opportunity of putting across its views. We will raise issues aggressively, offensively and assertively. Nda leaders said the government should also ensure that the situation is under control."

On the question of extension of session which opposition felt was a short one, Chatterjee said "it is for the government to take a decision in this regard."

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azad said "the extension of the session can be kept open and if need be (the Houses)can meet after December 25. Last year Parliament had met from December 2 to 23 and again from December 29 to January 5."