Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan calls all-party meeting on disruptions

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has called an allparty meeting on Thursday to discuss the issue of orderly conduct in the House. The Lok Sabha has remained paralysed since the beginning of the monsoon session over the government-opposition stand-off over the demand for the resignation of three BJP leaders. The Speaker has particularly objected to Opposition MPs holding placards and wearing black badges during their protest in the Well of the House.

There was lack of clarity on whether the Houses will meet on Thursday, in view of the burial ceremony of former President APJ Abdul Kalam.

If Parliament functions, both Houses are scheduled to discuss the recent terrorist attack in Punjab. But even on this, the government and Opposition seem to be having divergent views. While the government side hopes the discussion in Parliament would mark the resumption of normal work of both the Houses, sections of the Opposition argue that the home minister need only table his statement in the Houses and there is no need to discuss the issue due to the stand-off.

The ruling side is likely to field its MPs, especially from Punjab, to demand a short discussion on the terror strike while their counterparts in the Rajya Sabha may insist on availing the right of members of the Upper House to seek clarifications on the minister’s statement. The government hopes to push the Opposition into a tight spot, since the issue involves national security.

Leaders of many Opposition parties are slated to discuss on Thursday morning whether they should oppose a discussion on the issue of terror strikes or participate in the debate and air their views.