BJP backtracks on suspension of MPs, Congress cries foul

 The Congress and the BJP had reached a “broad consensus” on the suspension of four Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs who have been holding the Lok Sabha (LS) to ransom since the beginning of the monsoon session by disrupting proceedings over the Telangana issue.

However, the move to suspend the TDP members, along with seven from the Congress, fell through as the overwhelming opposition to the suspension of members prompted the BJP to change track.

The government and “key opposition parties” had reached a “broad consensus” on suspending the unruly MPs amid a walkout by the BJP after protesting the move.
The suspension would have facilitated the consideration and passage of the Food Security Bill. The BJP is also backing the bill but with certain changes.

A BJP leader said the party had to change track at the last minute as almost all parties had risen against the suspension motion moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath.

“The entire mood had changed. It forced us to change our stand,” a BJP leader said.
The Congress cried foul over turn of events with party spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit insisting that the move to suspend the MPs was the “last resort” to run the House and it was done after an “understanding” with all political parties.

“We are disappointed that all those parties, which were expressing a different opinion till yesterday, today (Thursday) opposed the resolution,” Dikshit said.

He also accused the BJP of adopting double standards as some BJP-ruled states had suspended opposition members for the entire duration of the Assembly session on several occasions.

Dikshit claimed that the BJP was not keen to pass the Food Security Bill and hence was resorting to disruptions.

The government is already in a spot in the House over the issue of missing files in the coal ministry related to the controversial allocation of coal mines.

The entire episode has raised a question mark over the government’s efforts of floor coordination in the Lok Sabha, which is yet to transact any business since the beginning of the monsoon session on August 5.

Speaker Meira Kumar has called a meeting of political parties on Friday to decide on the future course of action.

There was also talk of adjourning the Parliament sine die, but several leaders said there was no such proposal before them.

If Parliament is adjourned sine die, the government will have to re-promulgate the food security ordinance, which will lapse at the end of the monsoon session.