By IANS,
New Delhi: The Congress said Monday that the government was ready to discuss the issue of rising prices but the opposition cannot insist on a particular modality of discussion.
“The issue (of price rise) is important. We want to discuss it. No party can insist on particular modalities of discussion,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said here.
Referring to the insistence of the opposition on moving an adjournment motion on price rise, he said it was ultimately the presiding officer who decides under which rule a discussion will take place.
He said if the opposition’s real motive was to discuss and not to sensationalise, they should not insist on a particular mode of discussion.
The Congress hoped that the opposition, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party, will allow parliament to function.
“Sometimes statements come from parties that we will not allow the house to function. We hope no such advance declaration will be made. No issue is excluded from discussion,” the spokesman said.
Singhvi said statistics since 2004 demonstrate loss of time in parliament due to disruptions “caused by the BJP in particular and the opposition in general”.
He said the result of the cut motions moved by the opposition during the budget session was there for everyone to see. “Confidence does not mean succumbing to unreasonable demands,” he said.
The BJP said Monday it would bring an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha Tuesday on the price rise. The Left parties have also said they will bring an adjournment motion on the issue Tuesday.