Parliament's monsoon session: No surprises, day 1 on expected lines

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha witnessed repeated confrontations between the government and the Opposition on the first day of the monsoon session, with the former offering a discussion on the Lalit Modi controversy and even a statement from external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on the issue, and the Congress and the Left sticking to their demand for a probe and the minister’s resignation.

No business could be conducted in the Upper House on Tuesday as the opposition forced four adjournments to press for its demand that Swaraj and Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje quit their office as they are facing allegations in the Lalit Modi row. Some members also raised the Vyapam scam in which Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan is facing the opposition heat. The Congress and the SP had given notice for suspension of business and discussion on the Lalit Modi controversy. Soon after the Rajya Sabha met for the day, Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government was ready for a discussion and if the opposition wanted, then Swaraj could come and make a statement.

But the Congress members raised slogans, walked into the well of the House and forced an adjournment. Talking to reporters later, Jaitley alleged that the Congress only wanted to disrupt Parliament and did not want to debate the issue. “We get a distinct and clear impression that the Opposition wants disturbance for some time. They don’t want a discussion. The government is publicly declaring, as we have in the House, that we are ready for a discussion in any format, at any time,” he said outside the House.

Swaraj was not present in the House but tweeted that she is ready to debate the matter. “I am ready for a debate today itself. I asked Arun Jaitley to convey this to Rajya Sabha… Arun Jaitley has conveyed this to the House. We are looking forward to the opposition’s response,” she wrote on her twitter handle. When the House met again at 2 PM after two adjournments, CPM member Sitaram Yechury said “a discussion cannot be a substitute for an investigation. We want investigation.” Though the Congress wanted to discuss the charges against Raje and Chouhan as well, the government said there was no provision for debating state issues in Parliament.