The Hindu : National : Fresh appeal to Opposition to end Parliament boycott

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 11, 2005

National

National

Fresh appeal to Opposition to end Parliament boycott

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: With the Opposition continuing boycott of Parliament, a new round of appeals was made by the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Government, the Congress and the Communist Party of India, with all urging the constituents of the National Democratic Alliance to return to the House.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee renewed his appeal during question hour when a series of questions listed against members belonging to the Opposition could not be taken up. Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee urged the Opposition to return and take part in discussions.

"Impact felt"

The Congress said it hoped the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Opposition would reconsider and resume its work in Parliament. Party spokesperson Anand Sharma said besides missing out on debates on important issues and Bills, the impact of the boycott was being felt as work in standing committees headed by the Opposition members could not be done.

Commenting on the charge by the Opposition that in its absence, several important legislations were being pushed by the Government, Mr. Sharma said "legislation cannot remain frozen. It is their duty to come and take part".

The Opposition, he hoped, would reconsider its stand in the wake of the latest appeal by the Speaker, the Leader of the Lok Sabha and earlier by the Prime Minister and rethink in the larger interest of democracy.

"Take new initiative"

The Communist Party of India too made an appeal and also suggested the Prime Minister take a new initiative by reaching out to the Opposition. The party Lok Sabha leaders Gurudas Dasgupta and S. Sudhakar Reddy said though they did have political and ideological differences with the BJP but the Opposition was an integral party of parliamentary system.

"We appeal to the Opposition to reconsider (the boycott decision) and join. Absence of the Opposition devalues the parliamentary system and it is neither good for the Government and parties that are supporting it ... let contradictory views be thrashed out (on the floor of the House),'' Mr. Dasgupta said.

He said the Bill providing guarantee of 100 days employment could not come up before Parliament since the standing committee could not complete its work.

"Who gains when enactment of important legislation does not happen? It is the common man who loses. Nobody should stand in the way of enactment of legislation that it intended to benefit people below poverty line,'' they said.

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