CPI(M)not for boycotting Parliament; says govt will get a field day

NEW DELHI: The CPI(M) today opposed any move to boycott Parliament to protest the alleged disruption of the House by Congress members, saying such a move would only help the government to have a "field day" and ease the pressure on it.

"There is a proposal that the Opposition should boycott Parliament. But the CPI(M) is of the opinion that any boycott will only help the government to pass pending bills which we oppose. It will have a field day," senior party leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

Maintaining that his party was demanding a statement from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to explain the action against Anna Hazare, he said a boycott "will only ease the pressure on the government. ... We want the Prime Minister to come and explain the government's action in both the Houses".

The proposal was mooted by CPI's Gurudas Dasgupta who said it was subject to acceptance by other opposition parties.

Asked whether CPI(M) rejected a Left ally's proposal, Yechury remarked "that is why we are two different parties".

Yechury termed as "specious and untenable" the government's argument that when the House was debating a legislation, there should be no opposition or protest outside.

"It does not mean the people don't have the right to protest, to mount popular pressure on the government. This right is an inalienable right as per our Constitution and cannot be curtailed," he said.