Congress issues whip to MPs to be present in Parliament

New Delhi, July 28 (ANI): The Congress party on Wednesday issued a whip to its MPs to be present in Parliament in the backdrop of the opposition move to press for an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on the price rise issue.

The ministers have been told to vigorously defend the government during the debate.

"Congress was prepared for a detailed discussion under a rule that does not entail voting," said Party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

He further said: "We have only one strategy that is that Parliament should work and we have some productive output...A lot of bills are pending".

The move to issue the whip comes after BJP had said that it would settle for nothing less than an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the price rise issue.

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till noon after uproar over price rise.

Soon after Nand Kumar Sai (BJP) took oath, NDA members joined by Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party, AIADMK, RJD and the Left parties vociferously raised the hike in prices of essential commodities.

The opposition, which was demanding an adjournment motion on the issue, was countered by ruling benches, which wanted the Question Hour to be taken up.

Amid the din, Chairman Hamid Ansari called Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley to make a statement. Jaitley rose to speak but did not succeed as the din continued.

Ansari then asked the members to resume their places and adjourned the House till 12 noon.

The Opposition is demanding that the discussion on the price rise ends with a vote.

They said they want a vote because repeated debates on the issue have not produced any tangible result.

The opposition made it clear that it will not relent until the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, gives an assurance that the government is willing to discuss the issue in Parliament. (ANI)