BJP approaches President over Lok Pal session

BJP leaders today met President Pratibha Patil to complain about "subversion" of Parliament over Lok Pal issue and sought her intervention to reconvene the House to enable voting in Rajya Sabha on the crucial Bill.

BJP leaders led by LK Advani and party president Nitin Gadkari and leaders of opposition in both Houses Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj met President Pratibha Patil and handed over a memorandum to her, seeking the special Parliament session.

The party charged the government with "complete subversion of Indian Parliamentary institution" by not holding a vote in Rajya Sabha on the contentious Lok Pal Bill.

"We have suggested to the President that as a part of Parliament, she should take the initiative and give a concrete suggestion for reconvening the Parliament session and hold voting which was postponed earlier for creation of a strong Lok Pal," said BJP leader Arun Jaitley.

The President has said that she would examine various aspects on the matter before taking any action, he said.

"We have sought the President's intervention and expressed our complaint and dissatisfaction on the events that took place in Rajya Sabha on the night of December 29," Advani told reporters after meeting Patil.

The BJP memorandum states that "when such a breakdown of the constitutional machinery takes place, the President as a protector and guardian of Indian Constitution must act".

"The President could advise the government to reconvene the Session and immediately take a vote. The Government must be asked to explain the reasons why the House was disturbed through such contrived disturbances."