Thaindian News

New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) Peace returned to parliament Monday after leaders of all opposition parties met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee over breakfast and agreed to hold a debate on rising prices and allow both houses to function peacefully.
The quiet followed consecutive days of crisis that led to repeated adjournments in the first week of the monsoon session.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said in a two-line address to the house that she was “feeling happy” that parliament would now function normally.

“I feel happy that the opposition and treasury benches have agreed to hold a discussion on the effects of inflation on the common man. The discussion will be held Tuesday and the house will function now,” a smiling Meira Kumar said, as question hour proceeded on schedule for the first time during the session that began last Monday.

The Rajya Sabha was also peaceful after a week of chaos, protests, slogan-shouting and repeated disruptions.

“The discussion over the price rise issue will take place Tuesday,” Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Sitaram Yechury told reporters.

Asked under which rule the debate would be held, Yechury said: “Under no rule. It is Pranab Mukherjee’s rule.”

Troubleshooter Mukherjee called opposition leaders to draw up a formula for ending the stalemate over their demand for a discussion as an adjournment motion that entails voting.

The government had rejected the opposition demand, leading to an impasse that led to virtually no business being transacted last week.

The breakfast meeting also decided to draft a resolution to be adopted by parliament. The resolution will urge the government to take “effective steps” to contain prices, sources said.