Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today demanded an apology from the Opposition, accusing it of destroying Parliament and parliamentary tradition.
Mukherjee was upset after the Opposition rejected his offer last night of a special session to discuss whether there was a need for a JPC probe into the 2G scam.
“In the entire winter session, they (opposition) did not allow any opportunity for any discussion on any issue....They have created a deadlock in Parliament. They have destroyed the institution. They should apologise to the nation,” Mukherjee told reporters in New Delhi.
According to Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman, the special session for discussion had no meaning as the discussion had already taken place in 2009. She said discussing the issue would not serve any purpose. “The opposition insisted on a JPC and not a discussion and it was time for the government to act.”
However, there was no indication that the government had a Plan B to bring the House back on track, though preparations were on for a jam-packed legislative agenda in the budget session of Parliament which begins at the end of February.
The only ray of hope for the government, ironically, was the silence of the Left parties on the continuing stalemate in Parliament. The Left pride themselves on being disciplined Parliamentarians and have never joined the other opposition parties in antics such as rushing to the well of the House. They can also rarely make common cause with the BJP.
The only indication of the Left’s stand was an article in the CPI(M) mouthpiece, People’s Democracy: It said the “corporate media’s links with big business houses may have come as a surprise to others but the CPI(M) was not at all surprised”. But the article is silent on the tactics employed to expose the links.
The Congress is expected to make some overtures to the Left parties to divide the opposition ranks on the JPC issue. But Mukherjee’s irritation suggests the Left is okay with the idea.
