As House stalemate continues, govt sits pretty: does not hurt us, affects Opposition image | Political Pulse News,The Indian Express
Monsoon session headed for washout as both sides stick to their positions.
With the government and the Opposition refusing to budge from their positions, the ongoing Monsoon session is headed for a washout without any major business being transacted. Yet, sources in the government have indicated that the current stalemate “does not hurt” the treasury benches much as they do not have any crucial Bills pending and the pandemonium could, in fact, end up further damaging the image of the Opposition.
Amid uproarious scenes, slogan-shouting, placard-waving and repeated adjournments, neither of the two Houses of Parliament has seen any serious debate or discussion since the Monsoon session began on July 18.
Though there are indications that there could be a discussion next week, following an informal meeting that Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had with some of the Opposition leaders, the suspension of the MPs could be a sticking point.
While the Opposition has been disrupting the proceedings demanding a discussion on the newly introduced GST rates on pre-packaged food items, inflation and the government’s alleged use of central investigative agencies against its leaders, the ruling party, while maintaining that it is ready to discuss any issue, hasn’t spelled out a date for the debate. With 20 Opposition MPs being suspended for the week for disrupting the proceedings, protests in the Rajya Sabha have become shriller.
BJP sources, however, said the treasury benches are not agitated about the ongoing stalemate. “There is no urgent legislation pending before Parliament. There are no crucial Bills listed either,” said a BJP leader. Asked if the government would reach out to the Opposition to break the stalemate, a top leader of the party said, “There is no need. Things are going in the right direction.”
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