BJP seeks rescheduling of dates of Parliament Session

New Delhi, Oct 17 (UNI) Alleging that the UPA Government has made a 'clever attempt to cheat' the Parliament to escape embarassment, the BJP today demanded rescheduling of the dates of Parliament Session to enable the MPs to take part in the sittings effectively.

The demand for rescheduling of dates was made by Leader of Opposition L K Advani at the All Party Leader's meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee this morning, BJP Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj told newspersons.

She said the Government was unable to say if the Parliament is in Monsoon Session or Winter Session because the Cabinet had sought proroguing of the Lok Sabha. This would effectively mean that this is only an extended session of the two day Special Session called on July 21 and 22 for considering the Vote of Confidence.

Technically, this will be treated as a continued session and the MPs will not be able to move a No-Confidence Vote.

The selection of dates was designed in such a manner the MPs will not be able to attend the session upto November four because of important festivals like Karva Chauth, Dhanteras, Deepavali, and Chat Pooja. These are not just festivals but days of mass contact especially when the election dates have been announced for the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh, she said.

The Government wants to show that it has convened the Parliament Session but at the same time doesnoy want the MPs to attend, she alleged.

However, she said the BJP had taken a 'conscious decision' not to bring any No-Confidence vote. The BJP has its own view points on Indo-US nuclear deal and it will take the issue to the people.

The effect of the global meltdown on Indian economy, price rise of essential commodities, growing terrorist bombings are all the issues the BJP would want to discuss in Parliament. The issue of hijack of a ship near Somalia involving the lives of numerous Indian crew will also be raised in the coming days.

Asked if the BJP would seek discussion on attacks against christians in Orissa and Karnataka, Mrs Swaraj said the BJP would want a discussion on communal and ethnic violence across the country including Assam where Bangladeshi infiltrators were attacking local population.

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