Will go extra mile for smooth running of Parliament: Pranab

With the recent deadlock over the JPC on the 2G scam weighing heavily on its mind, a concerned government today said it would travel the extra mile to ensure smooth running of Parliament.

"We will be accommodative. We will travel the extra mile to ensure that these unfortunate events do not recur," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha, winding up the debate on a motion moved by the government for the formation of JPC into 2G spectrum allocation.

The House adopted the motion with a voice vote after a nearly four-hour debate which ran on expected lines with charges and counter charges between the treasury benches and the opposition.

Mukherjee was concerned over the growing disruptions in legislatures, including Parliament, regretting that it was spreading like an infectious disease and "collectively we shall have to sort it out."

He said the first Five Year Plan was merely of Rs 293 crore but then three-fourth of the time of Parliament went into money and financial matters. As against this, plan after plan after the 8th Plan have not been discussed in Parliament.

"We do feel that leaders of political parties should do a brainstorming session to evolve a suitable mechanism so that there is no disruption," he said.