PM meets key Oppn leaders on Parliament functioning

Fearing an Opposition backlash over the way UPA has handled the missing Coalgate files, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday reached out to the BJP, given the fact that the ruling coalition has important economic legislation pending which have to be passed in the remaining three days of the monsoon session. 

BJP patriarch L K Advani and Leaders of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, respectively — were called by the Singh to his residence on Tuesday night to find out what they expect from the ruling dispensation on crucial issues raised by the Opposition, including on the missing Coalgate files.

The BJP was furious at Singh for not clarifying on pointed queries it had raised in both Houses after he gave statements which the party believed was evasive. The last-minute diplomacy is also important since the PM is flying out to St Petersburg on Wednesday to attend the eighth G20 Summit, and had to assuage the hurt feelings of the Opposition to ensure that Parliament functions for the remaining session.