PM relieved after Quattrocchi impasse in Parliament ends

New Delhi, Mar 3 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said he was relieved that the crisis in Parliament over the Quattrocchi issue had ended.

''If Parliament has not functioned, it is not a source of rejoice.... I am happy that the crisis has come to an end,'' Dr Singh told reporters after releasing the book, ''The Cultural Heritage of India Vol. VII (Part One), edited by Art Historian Kapila Vatsyayan.

''I am relieved.... It's an happy ending,'' he said.

The BJP-led Opposition had not allowed Parliament to function for four days over the Quattrocchi issue.

They demanded a statement from the Prime Minister on the detention and release on bail of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi in Argentina, an accused in the Bofors kickbacks case.

The impasse ended after the government agreed for a short duration discussion on the issue in Parliament after March 7.

UNI