Anna effect: Non-UPA parties to corner govt

In a rare show of solidarity, BJP, Left and several other Opposition parties today came together to demand a statement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh followed by a debate on Anna Hazare's arrest and hinted that Parliament would otherwise not be allowed to function.

As Hazare was arrested and sent to Tihar Jail, leaders of BJP, JD(U), Shiv Sena, CPI(M), CPI, Samajwadi Party, RJD and some other non-UPA parties held a meeting to discuss the issue and devised the common strategy of pursuing agitation in Parliament against corruption.

"It has been decided that the Prime Minister should make a statement in both Houses of Parliament on whatever is happening in the country. Nobody else," Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said.

"PM will have to come to both Houses of Parliament and give a statement. After this there should be a debate on this issue. This is what we have decided," she said.

Rest of the strategy will be decided after that, Swaraj said, making it clear that functioning of House could be affected if the demands were not met.

Contending that action against Hazare reflected the government's "nervousness", she said the Opposition unity was not on Jan Lok Pal Bill but "violation of democratic rights".

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley alleged the government was "trying to snatch people's right to protest" and said "the political leadership is trying to hide behind uniform [police]".

Amid indications that Parliament would not be allowed to function, Jaitley said the impeachment proceedings against Calcutta High Court judge Soumitra Sen tomorrow will take place as per schedule at 3 PM.