BJP faces wrath of Oppn parties for repeated House disruptions
The BJP faces isolation within the Opposition camp over its aggressive tactics of disrupting Parliament proceedings—a move that has washed out the second half of the budget session so far.
The BJP faces isolation within the Opposition camp over its aggressive tactics of disrupting Parliament proceedings—a move that has washed out the second half of the budget session so far.
Even the key NDA ally, Nitish Kumar's JD(U), has disapproved of the principal opposition party's strategy and asked it to reconsider its decision.
At a closed-door strategy meeting of key opposition parties on Thursday morning at the Parliamentary party office of BJD, many leaders including JD(U) president Sharad Yadav favoured resuming of normal business in Parliament after the UPA managers made it almost clear that the government is not keen to adjourn the current session early in the wake of the opposition's continuous disruption.
"I raised the matter. The representatives of parties agreed," Yadav later told HT.
The meeting was called to discuss the strategy for the JPC. But the issue of disruption in Parliament got prominence as one after another opposition leader spoke against the ongoing logjam.CPI's Gurudas Dasgupta reportedly said in the meeting that perpetual disruption of House undermines Parliamentary system.
Dasgupta also feared that it will send a wrong message to the people about the role of the opposition.
TR Balu (DMK) and some other leaders also felt that it would be better to participate in a debate and "expose" the government than to stop Parliament from functioning.
"BJD has always maintained that Parliament should run as there are several important issues to be discussed," Bhartruhari Mahtab, party's chief whip in Lok Sabha, said.
Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha was the sole BJP representative in the meeting. He reportedly assured the leaders that he will convey their sentiments to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.
On Wednesday, Swaraj raised the pitch against the government and announced that she would not attend any meeting of Lok Sabha Speaker and even parliamentary affairs minister while renewing her vow of not allowing the House to run during this session.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently slammed the Opposition for disruptions and said, "Not letting Parliament function is a mockery of democracy. The whole world is laughing at us."