New Delhi: Setting the stage for serious confrontation in Parliament, an all-party meeting called on the eve of the Monsoon Session today ended in a deadlock over controversies related to Lalit Modi and the 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 the government’s 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.
On the other hand, it is reliably learnt that External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is keen to make a statement in Parliament on Lalit Modi. She has been attacked by the Opposition for ‘helping’ the disgraced former IPL chief get travel documents in England.
The Congress wants Sushma sacked though the minister has defended her act by stating that she helped Modi on ‘humanitarian grounds’, so he could accompany his wife to Portugal for cancer treatment.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to parties to utilise Parliament time for discussing all issues and said running both the Houses is a shared responsibility of all, even as he exhorted them to move forward on the contentious land bill.
Read: Monsoon session: Aggressive BJP to take on Congress
At a meeting with leaders of all political parties here, he asked them to collectively move forward on issues discussed in the last session while keeping the country's interest in mind. With important legislations like the land bill, the GST bill and the real estate bill pending before Parliament, the government is seeking the support of all parties in their early passage.
The Monsoon Session that is likely to end on August 13, is expected to be a stormy affair with Congress and other parties giving indications to that effect. Congress and other opposition parties will raise the demand the removal of Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the wake of their alleged involvement in Lalitgate and Vyapam scam.
"Of course, it is the responsibility of the government to run the House and we have to take the initiative for it, but this responsibility has to be shared by all. It is time to move forward. All of us have to collectively move forward. The country's interest is paramount. Certain issues discussed in the last session need to be taken forward," the Prime Minister said at the meeting.
Quoting SP leader Ramgopal Yadav, Modi said, "It is time that we should move forward on the land bill issue, incorporating suggestions from all sides. We should move positively on this issue."
He said the Monsoon Session was short and hence its time needed to be utilised for debating important issues for which the government was ready. "There are many outside forums where various issues are discussed extensively. The Monsoon Session is short, hence the time of Parliament should be used for debating issues which are relevant and important," he said.
Read: Fourth ordinance for land bill likely in monsoon session of the Parliament
The Prime Minister told the leaders that Parliament has a major significance and it should be utilised to discuss all issues as the government is ready to discuss all issues. Leaders of Congress, JD(U), SP, BSP, RJD, AIADMK, DMK and Left parties, besides allies of NDA, participated in the meeting. There was no representative of Trinamool Congress at the meeting.
Congress had yesterday firmly put the onus on the government for the smooth running of Parliament by demanding a "minimum action" in removal of Swaraj, Raje and Chouhan even as BJP decided to vigorously counter the expected onslaught, setting the stage for a stormy session.
Mounting an offensive on the government, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the running of Parliament and passage of important bills will be "more easy" if BJP takes action against these leaders while it will also help the party in "correcting" its image which has taken a hit due to the scams.
