LS passes supplementary demands for 2010-11 amid 2G uproar

LS passes supplementary demands for 2010-11 amid 2G uproar

After wasting 13 consecutive days, Parliament transacted some substantive business on Wednesday as Lok Sabha passed the supplementary demands for 2010-11 amid pandemonium created by the Opposition over its demand for JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam.

Undeterred by the opposition uproar, the government pushed the crucial financial bill through the Lower House by a voice vote without debate, before it was adjourned for the day in view of unruly scenes.

As Opposition members trooped into the well and continued slogan-shouting demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the 2G spectrum scam, Speaker Meira Kumar asked Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to move the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2010-11 and the relevant Appropriation Bills for passage.

After the House was adjourned, Mukherjee told reporters, "I am not at all happy the way we have to pass the supplementary demands in the din."

The demands and the bills were passed by voice vote by members of the treasury benches. Most parties of the ruling UPA coalition having issued a whip to ensure presence of all their members in the House in case the opposition pressed for a division.

The House also saw Law Minister Veerappa Moily introduce the crucial Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill 2010, amidst vociferous slogan shouting by Opposition members.

Earlier when the House met for the day, the Speaker made an obituary reference in the memory of former Minister and Haryana Governor Mahabir Prasad, following which it was adjourned till noon as Opposition members including those from BJP, AIADMK and Shiv Sena entered the well.

When the House reassembled, she read a statement on the occasion of the World AIDS Day. For the last 13 consecutive working days, no substantive business could be transacted because of the stand-off between the Opposition and the government.

In the Rajya Sabha, it was the repeat of scenes witnessed since November 10 with members from NDA and AIADMK rushing into the well to demand JPC.

The House was adjourned till noon by Chairman Hamid Ansari. When similar scenes were witnessed at noon, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan adjourned it for the day.

All-party meeting fails to break Parl deadlock

Earlier on Tuesday, the all party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker has concluded without resolving the stalemate in Parliament over the 2 G spectrum controversy.

At an all-party meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Tuesday, the Opposition made it clear that it will not allow Parliament to function till JPC into 2G spectrum allocation is set up but the government said the demand was "unacceptable".

The Opposition parties also emphasised that it will not be satisfied by anything less than JPC, rejecting government's proposal for Supreme Court monitored CBI probe into 2G scam.

The government also ruled out sine die adjournment of the session which is slated to conclude on 13th December.

To build pressure on the government, about 80 MPs belonging to non-NDA opposition parties marched to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to urge President Pratibha Patil to "advise" the government to set up JPC.

"All the Opposition parties demanded a JPC and if the government can’t give JPC, the Parliament would not be able to function. We have told this thing to the Speaker also," Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj told reporters after the two-and-a-half hour meeting.

During the meeting, the Speaker suggested that the Question Hour should be allowed and other issues could be debated later but it was turned down by the Opposition.

"We asked how will that help if Question hour goes on," Swaraj said, adding her party wanted Parliament to function not only one hour but the whole day.