NEW DELHI: The Government was prepared to change parliamentary rules of procedure, if necessary, by political consensus, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said here on Tuesday hours after the Lok Sabha's first part of the Budget session was declared adjourned abruptly, to be resumed after recess on April 26.

Attacking the Opposition for not caring about parliamentary rules and procedure, for repeatedly, and in an unprecedented manner, disrupting Parliament and Ministers when they were trying to respond to questions raised by MPs, for not keeping agreements arrived at in the chambers of presiding officers, and for making a mockery of the parliamentary system to the extent that its credibility was at stake.

The Railway Minister was not allowed to reply peacefully to the Railway Budget debate; Finance Minister P. Chidambaram was not allowed to answer queries raised by the Opposition and other MPs through the 17-hour long debate on the Union Budget; and the Opposition itself showed no interest whatsoever in the "priority" subjects such as price rise, farmers' condition, internal security and others that it had listed for debate. When the Government offered that Nandigram could be discussed during a debate on internal security — a State subject could not be discussed under the rules — the BJP had rejected that as well.

Mr. Dasmunsi said that he would be writing to the Prime Minister to suggest that before the start of the second part of the Budget session an all-party meeting of leaders be called to discuss changes in parliamentary rules to allow members, if they so feel, to discuss subjects which rules at present do not permit. "We have no objection. But the credibility of the parliamentary system must be protected. And if all parties agree then rules can be changed," he said, while hinting that all parties must abide by the rules agreed to.

Speculation

During the day there was speculation that the BJP may bring a surprise no-confidence motion against the Government. Mr. Dasmunsi said that he had prepared against such an eventuality and party MPs had been warned. However, the BJP itself stated — even before the Lok Sabha was adjourned till April 26 — that it had no plan at all to bring a no-confidence motion that would have only served to unite the various elements in the United Progressive Alliance and its supporters that were currently disunited.

Apparently, at 3.30 p.m. the Speaker of the Lok Sabha had called a meeting of party leaders top brief them on the May 10 function to commemorate the 1857 first war of Independence. At that meeting one member wanted to know from the BJP leader Santosh Gangawar whether the party would allow the House to function on Wednesday, suggesting that otherwise there was no point in everyone coming to the House and then going back after an adjournment. Mr. Gangawar reportedly consulted the Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani, and reported that the BJP was not in the mood to allow the House to function. That led to a consensus on the Lok Sabha being adjourned till April 26.

Objections were also raised by some MPs when the BJP wanted its leader Ananth Kumar to be allowed to speak on the Cauvery issue at 4 p.m. on Tuesday when it had disrupted the House throughout the day. MPs of other parties strongly objected to this leading to an adjournment till April 26.

Mr. Dasmunsi said that the Rajya Sabha had business on Wednesday — a legislative bill passed by the Lok Sabha was before it. Despite the loss of some 40 hours in the Lok Sabha and more than 34 hours in the Rajya Sabha, nine bills had been passed by both the Houses and 10 by the Lok Sabha. Several significant bills related to maintenance for old parents and micro-finance for women had been introduced.

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