Welfare plea on logjam

TT, New Delhi, Dec. 2: The government today appealed to the Opposition to end the Parliament deadlock over the demonetisation drive so that some bills aimed at people's welfare could be passed, betraying fears that the winter session might be washed out if the impasse persisted.

"It is the duty of the Opposition to take up issues of public importance. Because of the logjam in Parliament some important bills are not being passed and the beneficiaries are being denied their due benefit," parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar said.

Among the bills Kumar mentioned was the disability bill, which, he said, was important and sensitive as it was aimed at providing relief to 2.5 crore disabled people.

He also spoke of the maternity benefit bill and said the beneficiaries were women who had launched a campaign on social media urging political parties to pass the legislation without any delay.

Both Houses have been rocked by protests over the government's decision to demonetise the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and not been able to transact any substantial business since the session commenced on November 16.

The wider Opposition in the Lok Sabha has been demanding a discussion on demonetisation under a clause that entails voting, which is not acceptable to the government.

In the Rajya Sabha the discussion had started but remains incomplete, as the Opposition is demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a statement outside the House suggesting that Opposition parties were supporting black money.

Modi had last week said those criticising demonetisation didn't get enough time to "prepare".

Sources in the Opposition said while the rival bloc wanted a debate on demonetisation, it didn't want an immediate let-up in the standoff. "The deadlock could break around the middle of next week. By that time we feel people's patience would run out and turn into anger against the government," an Opposition leader said.

The government, on the other hand, is trying to "expose" the Opposition for running away from a debate. "Let Question Hour be adjourned on Monday and a discussion on demonetisation be taken up. We are ready. The Prime Minister will intervene in the debate," Kumar said.

A strong section within the government feels the Opposition protest was working in their favour as the public mood was still in favour of demonetisation.

Government managers are also hoping to exploit a division in the Opposition ranks to break the deadlock. "Only the Congress and the Trinamul Congress are demanding a discussion under a voting clause in the Lok Sabha. Most other Opposition parties like the BJD, TRS, YSR (Congress) and the AIADMK are not insisting on such a clause. They just want a discussion," a senior minister said.