Sources said a breakthrough emerged following LS Speaker Om Birla’s outreach to both the government and the opposition to break the impasse
NEW DELHI: On a day the opposition’s protest over Delhi Police’s alleged excesses against protesting students washed out proceedings in both Houses of Parliament yet again, signs emerged that normalcy may return from Tuesday, with government’s bill for enhancing punishment in cases of paper leaks likely to be taken up for discussion in the lower House.Sources said a breakthrough emerged following Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s outreach to both government and the opposition for breaking the impasse that has persisted since the monsoon session began on July 20, and that a discussion on the Vande Mataram bill, which makes insulting the national song a penal offence, may begin in Rajya Sabha.What also seems to have nudged the opposition to allow a discussion on Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, which was introduced by Union minister Jitendra Singh amid din, was government’s determination to push through its passage with a voice vote without a debate.It has also brightened the prospect of government revisiting its move to amend the women’s reservation law and increase seats in LS and state assemblies through a constitution amendment bill provided its hectic efforts to reach two-third majority in Parliament succeed.With government determined to secure passage of the public exams bill, Congress and its allies ran the risk of losing a chance to articulate their criticism, while BJP-led NDA would have used the opportunity to back its claim that leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition functionaries were running away from a debate. The bill is part of a raft of measures announced by PM Modi to pacify students protesting the NEET-UG paper leak and related issues, and Birla repeatedly emphasised the salience of discussion as the matter was linked to youth and the public exam process. Around 2pm, he told both opposition and government to sort out their differences before the House met again at 5pm.Sources said he met Congress’s K C Venugopal and Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, and also reached out to other opposition members, nudging them to agree to a debate.While six hours have been allotted for discussion, the time may be extended if the House wanted, he said, urging the opposition to choose discussion over the disruption it was causing by demanding a response from home minister Amit Shah over allegations of police excesses.Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju noted that 91 amendment notices to the bill had been moved by opposition MPs and this suggested their willingness to join the discussion.Even as the two sides inched towards a resolution, they continued to trade charges in LS, with opposition insisting that Shah respond to the charge that police used excessive force, including pellet guns in Delhi, and AK-47 in Bihar, against protesting students. Opposition said Shah needed to come out of hiding and face Parliament.Govt, however, matched the aggression and accused Congress of being obstructive for partisan reasons. “The image of Congress has fallen. Don’t do anything to further damage your reputation,” Rijiju said.
