There will be no resignations: Venkaiah Naidu on Opposition 'ultimatum'

Says no Union minister has done anything illegal or immoral

Setting the stage for confrontation in Parliament, an all-party meeting called here on the eve of the Monsoon session today ended in a deadlock over controversies related to Lalit Modi and Vyapam scam even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered to discuss all issues. 

The government ruled out any resignations. 

"There is no question of accepting ultimatum by anybody. From where did the question of resignation arise? Nobody can dictate terms to the government. From government side, no Union Minister has done anything illegal or immoral," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said. 

He was responding to Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad's remarks that if Modi was interested in running the Monsoon session of Parliament smoothly, he should remove External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. 

The Prime Minister chose the occasion to remind parties that smooth running of Parliament is a "shared responsibility". He appealed to them to utilise the time in Parliament to discuss all issues. 

On the Land Bill, the Prime Minister said that since there is no consensus on the issue, both government and opposition should make some adjustments to resolve the issue. 

Congress was, however, somewhat isolated at the meeting called by Naidu on its stand of not allowing the Parliament to function if Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje did not resign in connection with Lalit Modi row and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan did not quit over the Vyapam scam. 

A number of parties felt a washout of Parliament is not a solution. 

"This is not correct. Parliament will run but government must allow discussion," JD(U) President Sharad Yadav said when asked about the Congress' stand. 

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav was skeptical about the smooth functioning of Parliament. "I do not think this will be resolved. Weather seems bad from now itself." 

Naidu said that 29 opposition parties did not back the Congress stand on not allowing the House to function.