BJP raised Kashyap issue on RSS dictates: Left

New Delhi, May 23: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of what they termed was ''absolute parliamentary fascism'' in the backdrop of its scuttling the Lok Sabha business today, the Left parties said the sole aim of the party had been to ''destroy democracy and protect an RSS card holder''.

At a hurriedly called press conference, the leaders of the CPI(M), CPI and Forward Bloc said the BJP's one-point agenda was to protect the former Secretary General of Lok Sabha Subash Kashyap who had made ''derogatory'' remarks against the Speaker and questioned his ''impartiality''.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die today after two adjournments earlier in the day following BJP protests over the decision to admonish Mr Kashyap in the House for ''grave misconduct'' after a Privilege Committee found him guilty of ''imputing motives to the Speaker in discharging his duties and casting reflections on his impartiality''.

The Left leaders said the BJP had stalled the proccedings on the last day of the Session when a heavy agenda was listed.

Left leaders Basudeb Acharia, Gurudas Dasgupta and Subrata Bose deplored that the BJP party members in the Privilege Committee, after having duly signed the resolution to reprimand Mr Kashyap, had changed their minds within 24 hours on the ''dictates of the RSS''.

''Besides the Privilege Committee members gave a unanimous recommendation on the issue,'' they said.

The Left leaders, including CPI(M) chief whip Rup Chand Pal, said the BJP, which had stalled House proceedings for three days this time, had prevented discussion on matters of urgent public importance like the role of the Election Commission, reply of the Finance Minister to the debate on rise in prices of essential commodities and a structured debate on the Justice Mukherjee Commission Report.

On the BJP's demand that the Lok Sabha Speaker return the Report to the Privilege Committee as a certain party member did not understand the contents of the resolution when he signed it, they said, ''Now how can any member demand it back? It has become the property of the House.'' ''The way the BJP is dictating everything to the House, cannot be acceptable to the Left. We also urge the Congress to be more vigilant next session,'' Mr Dasgupta said, adding that the BJP allowed the House to function only for six days out of the total ten days.

While Mr Pal said the BJP member could have given a dissent note, Mr Acharia said the House was prevented from discussing the Stock Market scam among other things. Mr Bose said the whole House wanted to discuss the Mukherjee' Commission report, the reduction in the EPF rate and the reservation issue.

UNI

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