With the opposition parties calling for a discussion on inflation in Parliament along with the provision to vote (Section 184 in the Lok Sabha and 168 in the Rajya Sabha), Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee decided to call RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to find out how they felt about the matter. When the two said there should be a vote so that Parliament’s view could be known, an angry Mukherjee said: “Fine, let there be a vote in both houses, and let us simultaneously call for elections also.” Since they aren’t quite ready to face the electorate right now, the duo backed off and said they would continue to protest against the price rise, but independent of the other opposition parties. And in case of a vote, they will not vote along with them.
