NDA boycotts Finance Bill as Govt, Oppn clash in Parliament

New Delhi, Mar 22 (PTI) The Opposition Tuesday sought
to corner the Indian government on Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh's statement on 'cash-for-votes' scam disrupting
proceedings in both Houses of Parliament but the treasury
benches had their way in getting the Finance Bill passed in
the Lower House, Lok Sabha, helped by a BJP boycott.
Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) also gave notices for
Breach of Privilege against the Prime Minister, alleging that
he had misled Parliament by denying bribery during the 2008
Confidence Motion to save the United Progressive Alliance-I
government.
The Upper House of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, witnessed
three adjournments and the Lower House, Lok Sabha, one because
of the pandemonium created after the Opposition pressed for
urgent debate on Singh's statement in
which he has denied purchase of any MP during the trust vote.
Keen to corner government over 'cash-for-votes' scam
in the light of Wikileaks expose, the Opposition had given
notice for short duration debate on the issue which was agreed
to.
In the Lower House, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee
and Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj had a face-off over
the timing of the discussion.
While Swaraj wanted immediate discussion, Mukherjee
argued that it could take place after the passage of the
Finance Bill.
"We agreed to short duration debate after the Finance
Bill is passed. We have no problem to discussion under Rule
192 (which does not entail voting). But please allow the
Finance Bill to be passed first," Mukherjee said addressing
the Opposition.
"The Finance Bill has its own sanctity," Mukherjee
said, appealing for cooperation from the Opposition.
Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj said the Opposition
also wants passage of the Finance Bill but it should be taken
up only after two-and-a-half hour debate on PM's statement.
"It is a question of two-and-a-half hours...You allow
debate, then we can have both... It is just a matter of
earlier and later," she said.
Swaraj said if the debate is allowed on the PM's
statement, "We are ready to sit here till 12 am in night (to
pass the Finance Bill)."
Countering Swaraj, Mukherjee said a precedent like
this should not be created.
"You have given the notice for a Short Duration
discussion today. Allow 24 hours. The discussion can take
place tomorrow... The Finance Bill has been decided long ago.
We should stick to the schedule," he said.
P C Chacko, who was in the Chair, also ruled that the
Finance Bill should be taken up first and Mukherjee started
moving the Bill.
Unhappy over this, Swaraj led a walkout, asking the
government to pass the Finance Bill without the main
Opposition if it was so adamant.