No sign of end to Parl deadlock, Govt seeks Cong support

There was no sign of end to the deadlock in Parliament even as the government today made a fresh appeal to Congress to help ensure smooth functioning of the House and allow important legislations to be passed for "the country's sake".
"Not for the government or the BJP, please do a favour to the country. Allow legislations to be taken up in both houses. Don't stall them... Opposition should leave politics aside for the country's sake and take it forward by allowing Parliament to function," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said.
He said India has great opportunity for growth as its competitors are in bad shape and the climate is conducive for the country to grow faster and move forward. "No obstruction, no suspension. House should proceed smoothly," Naidu said.

Sources in the government said though the government was keen to ensure that the suspension of 25 Congress MPs from Lok Sabha were revoked, the Congress had not shown any sign of blinking and had not come forward to give an assurance to the Speaker that they would not obstruct the House.
They said though suspensions have taken place only after exhausting all options, the demand of some parties to revoke the suspension can only be discussed after the consent of the suspended members.
The government favoured bringing normalcy to the House and claimed that the public opinion is strongly against the disruptions in Parliament.

"People are overwhelmingly saying obstructionists are rightly suspended. People want legislative measures to be taken up for their welfare," a senior functionary in the government said.

In view of repeated obstructions by opposition in Rajya Sabha where the ruling coalition is in minority, there are talks that the government could convert some bills into money bills that do not require the assent of the Upper House.
"We cannot convert every bill into money bills. But that option is there. But, there have been precedents," the top government functionary said.
The government has maintained that the country badly needs the GST bill, the land bill and also the Real Estate Bill as these bills are directly linked to the growth of the country. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said the growth rate can go up by another 1 to 2 per cent once the GST bill is passed.

However, the three key legislations are struck in Rajya Sabha pending its approval.
The government also criticised the Congress for its comments that it has "derived strength" and have gained by obstructing proceedings, saying the opposition party has a record of hundreds of suspensions in the past when they have been in power.
Proceedings in Rajya Sabha continued to be paralysed and it has not transacted any business ever since it met for the Monsoon session on July 21.