Left to move adjournment motion on price rise; NDA to meet tomorrow

"There is a move to bring an adjournment motion in Parliament on price rise issue. The Left itself will bring the motion. There is no relief to common man and no steps from the government despite Parliament passing a unanimous resolution earlier," CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan told a press conference here today.

A senior BJP leader said the strategy of the NDA will be finalised tomorrow evening. An indication that the Left and the Right could make common cause on the issue was available with Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj noting that the BJP will come to a decision on it after consultations with others opposed to government.

Opposition leaders have suggested a common strategy will be firmed up after tomorrow's meeting of the NDA after which the BJP will discuss floor coordination with other parties.

It could also see opposition unity on the issue of corruption in the wake of new reports of the CAG on corruption issues as well as on the 2G case. With Assembly elections for five states including Uttar Pradesh scheduled early next year, developments in these states may have its echo in Parliament.

UP Chief Minister Mayawati has already stunned her detractors by coming out with the move of dividing the largest and politically most crucial state into four states.

MPs from the Telangana region are also on the warpath amid announcements that they would not allow Parliament to function till the demand of separate state is conceded.

Bardhan accused the government of doing nothing to bring down the double-digit inflation, saying the economic situation in the country was "very serious" despite "comfortable statements" made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on various issues.

"The situation is really serious. The recession is catching up with us. The manufacturing sector has shown a growth rate of just one per cent. Perhaps this is the lowest in few decades. Gone are the days when our finance minister talked about 8.5 per cent and 9 per cent growth, now the utmost they expect is 7 per cent," he said.

Opposing the frequent hike in prices of petrol, Bardhan demanded that the government reverse deregulation and decontrol of fuel prices in the interest of common people.
A heavy agenda awaits the session as the government has listed as many as 31 bills for consideration and passing including the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill.

Among the key bills are the Lokpal Bill, expected to be brought in the last week of the session ending on December 21. The Parliamentary Standing Committee scrutinising the anti- corruption legislation is expected to give its report by the first week of December.
The Monsoon session of Parliament had failed to transact much official business despite a heavy agenda in view of disruptions by the opposition on a range of issues including the Lokpal Bill.

Likewise, the winter session last year was washed away over opposition demand for a JPC into the 2G scam.

Government managers are admitting in private that they are visualising disruptions throughout the first week.