Kamal Nath likely to meet more Opposition leaders

The government is expected to reach out to the Opposition by Monday when Parliament resumes amid concerns over continued disruption of both Houses over the coalgate issue.
With the first week of the second phase of the budget session seeing a complete washout of Parliamentary business, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath is likely to meet more Opposition leaders.
After a meeting of the Congress Core Group, highly-placed sources said the government will also be meeting Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to find a way to pass the crucial bills especially the Finance Bill, whose passage marks the end of the budgetary exercise.

Nath today met NDA Working Chairperson L K Advani to find a way out of the stalemate. With only nine working days left in this session, Nath sought BJP's support to run the House to pass the Rail Budget and the Finance Bill.
Sources said Advani suggested that Nath discuss the issue with Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who is campaigning in Karnataka, on Monday. But he emphasised that BJP is firm that the controversial JPC draft report on 2G spectrum scam should not be adopted.
At a meeting of UPA, the general refrain was that attempts should be taken to establish "dialogue" with the Opposition.

The continuing stand-off may force the government to get the Finance Bill and the Rail Budget passed in the din.

The decision for fresh efforts to connect with the Opposition was taken on a day, when Parliament failed to transact its business for the fourth consecutive day as the BJP mounted pressure on the government for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the dismissal of Law Minister Ashwini Kumar over the coal scam.
An interesting development was JPC Chairman PC Chacko' remarks that he was open to amending draft report on 2G spectrum scam if convinced by the Opposition.

The remarks came after the opposition indicated that it is unlikely to cooperate unless it is assured that Chacko's draft report on 2G will be rejected.