Opposition to target Centre on price rise issue in Lok Sabha

New Delhi, Feb 23 (ANI): Despite the Centre on Monday rejecting a demand for a discussion on the price rise in the Lok Sabha through an adjournment motion that entails voting, an uproar is expected in the parliament today with the Opposition set to slam the government on the issue.

The Centre has claimed that price rise was 'more a failure' of the state governments and that the central government should not be blamed for this.

A discussion under an adjournment motion would entail voting and the government wants it to be taken up only as a short duration-discussion, which does not have voting.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal said the government is not afraid to face any motion said, "These discussions do not lie under (the purview of) adjournment motion."

"We are very confident. We are going to last for five years. There is no fear of anything. We are confident that our allies are with us. There is no problem," added Bansal.

Bansal said the government's objection was on a matter of principle, as the opposition was not playing as per rules governing the conduct of the House.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj met Speaker Meira Kumar and reiterated the opposition move to bring an adjournment motion on Tuesday and demand suspension of Question Hour.

Gopinath Munde, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha said, the party has already given notice for an adjournment motion and the Centre should not make it an ego issue. We will not allow the House to run if the adjournment motion is not accepted," added Munde.

Gurudas Dasgupta of Communist Party of India (CPI), Basudeb Acharia of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav also met the Speaker in this regard.

The key allies of the Congress led UPA government like Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have also sought a full-fledged debate on the price rise issue.

The Centre's contention is that the opposition parties could come up with cut motions when the motion to thank the President for her address would be voted upon.

However, both the Centre and the Opposition have reached an understanding to take up a discussion on the price rise in the Rajya Sabha.

It is expected that the opposition will seek suspension of the Question Hour to take up the price rise issue immediately after the House assembles for the day.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had on Monday appealed to the Opposition to allow smooth functioning of the Parliament during the Budget Session.

"The Government is ready to discuss all issues in Parliament and I, therefore, appeal to the Opposition not to have any disruption of Parliamentary proceedings," said Dr Singh.

"Parliament is a forum for debate and the government is ready for it," he added.

The Railway Budget will be presented on February 24, the Economic Survey on February 25 and the General Budget on February 26.

The session would come to an end on May 7.

In order to enable the Standing Committees consider demands for grants of various ministries, the Houses will adjourn for a recess from March 16 to April 12. (ANI)