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BJP attends speaker's meeting
The BJP attended the meeting of floor leaders in the presiding officer's chamber after the Lok Sabha was adjourned, reports Saroj Nagi.
Without officially announcing that they have lifted their boycott of Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, the BJP attended the meeting of floor leaders in the presiding officer's chamber after the Lok Sabha was adjourned following the Opposition's efforts to raise the issue of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's reported remarks that the Muslims have a first claim on the resources of the country.
BJP's VK Malhotra came for the meeting where, according to Parliamentary Affairs Minister PR Dasmunsi, he even proposed that his party would not make an issue of it if the Government passed the demand for grants amidst din.
The offer was seen as particularly ironical since the BJP had boycotted the Business Advisory Committee meeting alleging that the Speaker had conducted the business of the House amid commotion over BJP chief Rajnath Singh's arrest in West Bengal.
Malhotra reportedly referred to the constitutional requirement of passing the demands for grants while making his offer though it remains to be seen whether the BJP will take part in Tuesday's BAC.
Reflecting the divide in the NDA camp, the BJD, JD (U) and other NDA leaders have been attending the BAC and the floor leaders meetings. In fact, these parties had sent feelers to the Government that the BJP's stand off with the Speaker needed to be resolved.
The Speaker met the BJP leaders last week but made it clear that their allegation against him that he was partisan was unfair and denigrated the institution of Parliament.
With Parliament losing a lot of time to adjournments, the two Houses may sit late this week to complete the business. However, there were indications that the Sachar panel report on the plight of Muslims will not be debated this session. There is also a question mark over the women's reservation bill given the RJD's demand for an all party meeting to evolve a consensus on it.
There is also speculation whether the OBC quota in education bill would be taken up by the House.
Speaking to reporters, Dasmunsi said that Congress MPs would have pre-Budget consultations with Finance Minister P Chidambaram on December 13-14.
His own meeting with UPA MPs on Monday to brief them on the Government's flagship programmes is now likely to be held on Tuesday, he said.
Email Saroj Nagi: snagi@hindustantimes.com
