Parliament Spotlight

Govt Ready To Discuss Rafale deal, Opp insists for JPC

New Delhi: Deliberations in the Lok Sabha today again failed to take off with both the Opposition and Treasury benches refusing to relent. While Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted in the House, in the din of slogan shouting, that the Government wants to discuss the Rafale deal fully and is ready, Opposition Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge insisted that the speaker must agree to their demand of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Rafale deal. This is so, he said because the Government had not given all the facts to the Supreme Court and that it would only be the JPC where these would be revealed.

He asserted that with the JPC, all files would be carefully studied and that the truth will come out. He therefore, appealed to the Chair Sumitra Mahajan that the JPC be allowed. CPI member Mohammed Salim said that the MPs have been asking for a discussion on the issue and as the Government had given a wrong statement to the Supreme Court, a JPC must look into it. Likewise, leader of TMC parliamentary party Sudip Bandyopadhyay said the discussion should start and why don’t we agree to the proposal as demanded and let the House run. Minister Tomar said the Government was ready for a discussion, there is no need for a JPC as the Supreme Court has given a verdict and the House should discuss the issue.

However, with the din in the House with AIADMK MPs raising slogans and carry placards to not to construct the dam at Cauvery, the TDP MPs carrying placards saying Save democracy, Save India and the Congress showing placards of Rafale scam exposed, the House was adjourned. With the election season on, wonder whether the House would run, as many an MP were doubtful, and the stand-off may not reach an amicable solution. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

New Delhi

19 December 2018