The Hindu : National : No plan to adjourn House early: Congress

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Wednesday, May 04, 2005

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National

No plan to adjourn House early: Congress

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday discounted reports that the Government was planning to adjourn Parliament ahead of its schedule and said there was enough business for both the Houses to transact.

"There is no truth in reports that Parliament would be adjourned early. We have enough business and our only request is that the Opposition should attend the Houses," the Congress Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha, Pawan Bansal, said here.

He said the Opposition should participate in the discussions as its members had done on Monday. Parliament is scheduled to adjourn on May 13.

The Congress, on its part, criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders for "ridiculing" the appeal made by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, urging the Opposition to end its boycott and return to Parliament.

"One expected the National Democratic Alliance leaders would respond (to the appeal) and reconsider their senseless boycott... the manner in which the Prime Minister sought to be ridiculed is unfortunate and deserves to strongly criticised. It undermines the dignity and office of the Prime Minister," the party spokesperson, Anand Sharma, said.

Mr. Sharma said the BJP should explain why it did not accept the offer of the Prime Minister that the Government was willing to discuss any issue. There could be two views but by not speaking in the House and then making incorrect charges was "unfortunate and irresponsible."

Meanwhile, the All-India Mahila Congress expressed concern at the delay in the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill. The party's women's wing chief, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, said a delegation had recently met the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, who was seeking the opinion of various political parties on the issue.

Ms. Joshi said the Minister informed the delegation that he had been in touch with 20 parties and a consensus was emerging.

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