Date:16/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/16/stories/2006051606461300.htm

National

Opposition not justified in stalling proceedings, says Dasmunsi

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi was critical of "Bharatiya Janata Party stalwarts" in the Rajya Sabha who on Monday repeatedly stalled proceedings while demanding that the Prime Minister or the Home Minister be present when a motion on Doda was to be taken up.

"First of all, there was confusion over the adjournment motion moved by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Notice was given after the time limit of 10 a.m. Still, since it was given by the Leader of Opposition [L.K. Advani] it was accommodated." He said since an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition had been taken up in the Lok Sabha it was but natural that the senior ministers were busy in the Lok Sabha.

"During the entire National Democratic Alliance tenure only five adjournment motions were admitted. On several important issues the Government of the day did not agree to an adjournment motion, whereas in the two-years of the United Progressive Alliance already four adjournment motions have been admitted."

He suggested that when the Government had willingly agreed to take up the motions for which the Opposition gave notice, it was unbecoming of the opposition leaders in the Rajya Sabha to stall the motion.

He said that on Tuesday a call attention motion "on the communal situation in Vadodara and elsewhere" could be taken up in the Lok Sabha.