Tainted ministers keep Lok Sabha on a boil

BJP has govt firmly in its cross-hairs

The election of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Charanjit Singh Atwal of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) was the only business transacted in Parliament today as an unrelenting Opposition paralysed proceedings protesting against the induction of "tainted" persons as ministers in the United Progressive Alliance government.

Soon after the speeches by leaders felicitating Atwal, BJP Deputy leader VK Malhotra said "first the issue of tainted ministers should be decided".

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee tried to break the impasse over the motion of thanks to the President for his address by inviting the Opposition and Treasury benches for a meeting.

At the meeting held in the Speaker's chamber, it was suggested that former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani would speak on the debate and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would reply.

The Speaker got no assurance from the Opposition with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders saying that they would like to consult their National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners before agreeing to the suggestion.

When the issue was taken up at an NDA meeting, its constituents showed their unwillingness to dilute their stand over the tainted ministers' issue.

According to sources, NDA convener George Fernandes has in a letter to Harkishen Singh Surjeet, CPI(M) secretary-general, questioned the probity of appointment of persons with criminal cases pending against them as ministers in the Left-supported UPA government.

Malhotra said "the Treasury benches did not care about the Opposition when they introduced the motion of thanks, why do not they ensure its passage in the same manner."

With the fate of the motion of thanks being called into question, Congress managers today asked all its party members to be present in the House tomorrow because "there was a possibility of the motion of thanks being carried by voice vote.

"We have been asked to attend the House tomorrow, although no formal whip has been issued," said a senior minister.