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On the eve of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's scheduled meeting with representatives of all political parties, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said the government had made ‘several suggestions to end the stand-off over constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into the irregularities in 2G spectrum allocation.
In brief remarks to the media after her third and final round of discussions with leaders of political parties here, Ms. Kumar, however, declined to divulge details of the suggestions from the government to end the parliamentary impasse.
The meeting was attended by representatives of small parties and independents. Leader of the Lok Sabha Mr. Mukherjee and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal were among those present.
“It is for the government to share the suggestions with political parties. All I can say is that all parties are in favour of smooth functioning of Parliament and the government is making a genuine effort,” the Speaker said.
To a question, Ms. Kumar said she had not heard of any proposal by the government to move a resolution on the JPC and put it to vote. She was ‘very optimistic and positive' of a way out to ensure orderly budget session beginning on February 21.
The Speaker has been engaged in consultations with the party leaders in a bid to end the deadlock. The entire winter session was lost as the government and the Opposition differed on the need for a JPC.
No change of mind yet
So far there are no indications from either side to suggest a change of mind. While the Opposition is insisting on a JPC, the government continues to maintain that such a committee will be a duplication of work, as the issue is being looked into by the Public Accounts Committee and the Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe.
Mr. Mukherjee, who led the government delegation at the Speaker's meeting, made the same point.
Some of the representatives told the government that there was no merit in its argument and urged it to concede the Opposition's demand.
In brief remarks to the media after her third and final round of discussions with leaders of political parties here, Ms. Kumar, however, declined to divulge details of the suggestions from the government to end the parliamentary impasse.
The meeting was attended by representatives of small parties and independents. Leader of the Lok Sabha Mr. Mukherjee and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal were among those present.
“It is for the government to share the suggestions with political parties. All I can say is that all parties are in favour of smooth functioning of Parliament and the government is making a genuine effort,” the Speaker said.
To a question, Ms. Kumar said she had not heard of any proposal by the government to move a resolution on the JPC and put it to vote. She was ‘very optimistic and positive' of a way out to ensure orderly budget session beginning on February 21.
The Speaker has been engaged in consultations with the party leaders in a bid to end the deadlock. The entire winter session was lost as the government and the Opposition differed on the need for a JPC.
No change of mind yet
So far there are no indications from either side to suggest a change of mind. While the Opposition is insisting on a JPC, the government continues to maintain that such a committee will be a duplication of work, as the issue is being looked into by the Public Accounts Committee and the Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe.
Mr. Mukherjee, who led the government delegation at the Speaker's meeting, made the same point.
Some of the representatives told the government that there was no merit in its argument and urged it to concede the Opposition's demand.