Cong says ready for any discussion on price rise, BJP meets Prez

A delegation of BJP MPs and senior leaders today met President Pratibha Patil and submitted crores of signatures as part of its campaign against "abject failure of the UPA government" to control price rise. Meanwhile, the Congress clarified that it was not shying away from any issue.

A delegation of BJP MPs and senior leaders today met President Pratibha Patil and submitted a memorandum and crores of signatures as part of its campaign against "abject failure of the UPA government" to control price rise.

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Under attack from the Opposition on rising prices, the Congress on Thursday clarified that it was not shying away from any issue.

"The Congress has never shied away from any issue," party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters outside parliament.

"It was the Opposition's prerogative to give a notice for an adjournment motion, but since the speaker has rejected it they must accept it," Tewari said.

For the third successive day on Thursday, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day as the entire opposition staged vociferous protests against price rise, demanding a discussion on the issue under a rule that entails voting.

As the demand for an adjournment motion was rejected by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Wednesday, the opposition is now demanding a discussion under rule 183, which also has a provision for voting.

In Rajya Sabha, the demand is for a discussion under rule 168.

The Left parties and other non-NDA opposition members also staged a sit-in in the Parliament House complex, shouting slogans against the government and the price rise.

"The issue of price rise can not be solved by shouting slogans outside parliament," Tewari added.

Parliament has not been able to transact any business on the three working days of the monsoon session that began Monday due to opposition protests.