BJP slams Congress over not accepting demand for discussion on price rise

New Delhi, Feb.23 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday (Feb.23) slammed the Congress party for not accepting their demand for discussions on the issue of price rise and said that the government fears that its allies will abandon them on the issue.

"If today they (Congress) have the majority in the Lok Sabha, why do they have problem in accepting the adjournment motion? After all the discussions, a motion is moved; where is it written that the government has failed or that's why the House is being adjourned? If they are in the majority then why are they scared? Why can't they accept this? But they are not. If tomorrow, No Confidence motion is passed, what will they do? They fear their allies will desert them on the issue of price rise," S. S. Ahluwalia, Deputy Leader of BJP in the Rajya Sabha said in New Delhi.

The second day of the Budget Session of the Parliament was adjourned on Tuesday in the wake of an uproar by the opposition parties, led by BJP in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha over the price rise issue.

The opposition parties were demanding that discussions be held under Rule 193 in Lok Sabha, which allows for voting at the end of the discussion, and under Rules 167 and 168 in the Rajya Sabha.

The heated exchanges forced the Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and the Rajya Sabha Chairman Vice President Hamid Ansari, to adjourn the respective Houses till 11 a.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 24).

Meanwhile, the Congress party slammed the BJP for disrupting the proceedings of the Parliament.

"Though we have suggested that there should be discussion but adjournment as per rules cannot be admitted. Rules are made by the members. ....... but whatever that there is a rule, that time is to be given by the leader of the Rajya Sabha in respect of the motion under (Rule) 167.... In respect of the adjournment motion, how can it be admitted that there are elaborate rules and procedures, and these rules are made by the members themselves?

We cannot help it," said senior Congress leader and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. (ANI)