Winter session likely to be stormy; Opposition plans adjournment motion on price rise

NEW DELHI: The Opposition is planning to move an adjournment motion against the Manmohan Singh government for its “failure” to contain prices of essential commodities, on the opening day of the winter session of Parliament on November 22. An adjournment motion, if accepted, will have to be taken up immediately, putting all other business on hold.

The BJP and the Left spoke in similar voices at a ritualistic allparty meeting convened by Speaker Meira Kumar ahead of the session. They are planning to coordinate on the motion. The BJP said it would decide on the details at a meeting of the NDA on Monday, a day before the monthlong session begins. The Left will reach out to other Opposition parties to back the motion.

At the meeting, leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj proposed an adjournment motion on price rise. CPM’s Basudeb Acharia and CPI’s Gurudas Dasgupta backed her suggestion and said the government should accept it to ensure smooth functioning of the House. Dasgupta suggested that the motion could be on the failure of the government in the light of the resolution passed by Parliament earlier on price rise.

"We will register a protest against the government decision of 26% FDI in pension. There are other issues... workers' issues need to be discussed, which the Parliament has avoided. Suicide of kisans... paid news also needs to be discussed. Therefore it will be a very lively Parliament session," Dasgupta told reporters after the meeting.

He appealed to the government to accept the Opposition’s demand for an adjournment motion.