New Delhi: As the second half of the budget session of Parliament makes a fresh start tomorrow, after both houses having been prorogued in the break session to enable the Central government to impose President’s rule in the hill state of Uttarakhand, politics would take precedence over any other business.
Led by the Congress, opposition parties are getting ready to accuse the NDA government of “assaulting” the federal structure undeterred by the fact that the case is sub-judice and is waiting the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Nainital High Court order to quash president’s rule. After an all-party meeting, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has made it clear that there is no chance of discussing the issue till April 27th, by which time the apex court would have heard the matter.
But Congress floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge asserted that the decision rests with the Speaker and it is within her jurisdiction to allow the debate on the subject. But when it comes to Uttarakand president’s rule, the situation is ticklish for the government. Even if the apex court were to set aside the high court order, the government would have a tough time getting parliamentary approval as it does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha. The government’s numbers have got a boost after the round of fresh nominations by the president, but the deficit remains. Besides, two parties that could bail out the government – TMC and AIADMK are fighting the battle for their respective states, and their members may not be present in full strength.
On the Uttarakhand political crisis, Congress leaders have given notices for suspension of question hour and adoption of a resolution condemning the imposition of President’s Rule on Monday. Meanwhile, the war of words over the Ishrat Jahan case that is also likely to figure in the parliament escalated as , Congress charged the BJP with spreading misinformation to “save the skin” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.
The BJP retaliated by demanding an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul for their “sin of playing with nation’s security”. At a joint news conference, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Anand Sharma and others said: “Simple truth is that this web of deceit and deception is being woven by government and certain sections of media to save the skin of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.”
