Govt pushes through most financial business in deadlocked Parliament

With the deadlock over the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) issue continuing for the 15th working day, the government today pushed through almost the entire financial business for the winter session of Parliament.

The Lok Sabha passed the supplementary demands of Rs 1,024.61 crore for the railways amid din and similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha, which returned the supplementary demands (general) for Rs 45,000 crore and the relevant appropriation bills for 2010-11.

The supplementary demands for railways were approved in the Lok Sabha without debate by a voice vote, as several members of the Opposition stormed the well, demanding a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam. The Lower House also passed demands for excess grants for railways for 2008-09.

With the approval of the supplementary demands for railways, the Lok Sabha has completed the financial business, while Rajya Sabha is expected to do so tomorrow.

Both the Houses were adjourned for the day minutes after the financial business was completed amid Opposition chants of “We want JPC”, with some members also waving newspaper copies of reports on alleged irregularities in the spectrum scam.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was present in the Rajya Sabha when the supplementary demands (general) were moved by Minister of State for Finance Namo Narayan Meena and passed by voice vote.

In the Lok Sabha, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was present, as also Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee, when Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee sought passage of the supplementary demands.

After the House was adjourned for the day, Banerjee was seen sharing her happiness with Opposition leaders, including L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Sharad Yadav and Lalu Prasad, over the passage of the measures.

Earlier, both the Houses were adjourned for an hour till noon, giving a go-by to the Question Hour for the 15th straight working day.

Congress members, who have been countering the Opposition by raising slogans against Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa for several days, remained in their seats today.

Members in the well-attended Lok Sabha were dressed in their best for a group photo clicked in the Parliament House premises before the House met for the day.