New Delhi: The Budget Session has ended two days ahead of schedule, with both Houses of Parliament being adjourned sine die on Wednesday afternoon.
On Wednesday morning, like most mornings since the Houses reconvened two weeks ago after a recess, the Opposition disrupted proceedings demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his two ministers recently smeared by different scandals, Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and Railway Minister Pawan Bansal.
The abrupt end to the Budget session means that the Congress has been unable to push its two landmark Bills – the food security Bill and the land acquisition Bill. Both these Bills are key electoral promises of the ruling Congress, which is also counting on them to offset some of the brand equity it has lost as the government it leads hurtles through allegation after allegation of corruption and scams, uncomfortably close to general elections next year.
The party has slammed the opposition for stalling pro-poor legislation. Congress leader KV Thomas said the BJP was “killing democracy” and “spreading goondaism.”
The BJP said it would be happy to help pass the food security bill, which the Congress tabled in the Lok Sabha amid chaos this week, provided Kumar and Bansal resigned. No deal, said the government.
The BJP has attacked the government for trying to push the crucial Bill amid chaos in parliament and allies like Mulayam Singh Yadav, who provides the Congress-led UPA with external support and Sharad Pawar of the NCP have said the Bill should be debated.
As the UPA made every effort to get Houses to function, Pawar played mediator, talking to the Left and the BJP.
In Parliament on Tuesday, Sonia Gandhi was seen walk a distance with her arm around the shoulder of the BJP’s Sushma Swaraj.
Last week, Ms Swaraj, had accused Mrs Gandhi of instigating Congress MPs to disrupt the BJP leader’s speech in the House. (Agencies)