BJP to let Finance Bill be passed Tuesday

The Bharatiya Janata Party Monday said they will allow the Finance Bill 2013-14 to be passed in the Lok Sabha Tuesday, as they did not want a "constitutional crisis" to arise.

Sources from the main opposition party indicated they may stage a walkout.

"We are a responsible opposition and we do not want a constitutional crisis to arise. So we will let the Finance Bill pass in Lok Sabha tomorrow (Tuesday), though our protest continues," said BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar.

He, however, did not disclose what would be the exact method for the main opposition party to allow the Finance Bill to be passed while the main opposition continues its protest.

"Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj will make a statement in the Lok Sabha tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon and she would clear the party's stand there," he said.

Party sources said the BJP members will not be shouting slogans, as it has been since past few days, when the Finance Bill is passed.

"We will not be shouting slogans when the Finance Bill is passed," said a party leader.

Asked if the party will walk out, he said: "We may."

Javadekar slammed the ruling Congress for being non-serious about government work.

"The government did not even remember it had to get the Finance Bill passed before April 30, and had scheduled it for May 6. When they realised the bill had to passed in Lok Sabha by April 30, Kamal Nath asked Sushma Swaraj for a meeting. It was she who suggested that it should be an all-party meeting," he said.

The finance bill, which provides government funds for executing its work through the year, has to be passed by both houses of parliament and signed by the president within 75 days of the Budget being presented.

The union budget was presented Feb 28, and the 75-day period ends May 14. After passage in Lok Sabha, the bill has to be passed in Rajya Sabha within 14 days, and after that it will be signed by the president.

Javadekar added there was no change in the party's stand on the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, adding that protests will continue in Rajya Sabha.

"We are sticking to our demand that the law minister and prime minister should resign," Javadekar added.