New Delhi: The Opposition is in no mood to relent saying it will not let Parliament function without the resignations of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. On Monday, there was uproar in the Lok Sabha with the BJP, its allies and the Left storming the well of the House even as the National Food Security Bill was taken up for discussion.
However, a brief debate was allowed on the Bill. The government will try to have the Food Bill passed on Tuesday. The Food Minister KV Thomas called the bill, which has Congress President Sonia Gandhi's strong backing, a historic initiative.
Members from Left and Right in the Well denouncing "dictatorial ways" of the government in pushing through the much talked about legislation when Parliament is paralysed over various scams. "Loktantra ki hatyari sarkar, nahin chalegi..." chanted BJP members who were joined by Left members in denouncing the Congress-led coalition.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, whose brainchild is the Food Security Bill, was prominent among those present. Sonia, who is also UPA Chairperson, virtually led the treasury benches in marshalling forces in favour of the legislation.
The BJP slammed the government for trying to pass bills to divert attention from corruption'. "This government is not only corrupt but is also an oppressive one. Outside Parliament, it indulges in corruption and inside Parliament, it acts as an oppressor. It tried to get the Food Security Bill passed in the Lok Sabha today thinking this will divert the country's attention from their corruption. This is condemnable," Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters.
Claiming that BJP is also keen on passage of the Food and Land Acquisition Bills, she said such far-reaching legislations cannot be passed without a proper debate. "But when the atmosphere is so tense inside the House and members are protesting and voicing their demand for the resignation of ministers, an attempt to pass such Bills is improper," Sushma said. She pointed out that there is time for the government till May 10 to get these two Bills passed but it should first ask the two ministers to step down.
(With additional information from PTI)
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