Govt-opposition strike deal, will discuss price rise today

The government and the opposition have decided to discuss price-rise in parliament, but they won’t vote on it. The debate in Lok Sabha will now happen today, under rule 193, which does not entail a vote. The government has agreed to suspend question hour for the discussion.

Both houses of parliament have failed to transact business on the first two days of the budget session, which started on Monday.
The opposition had moved an adjournment motion, demanding immediate discussion on price rise. The government refused to agree to an adjournment motion, leading to a standoff.

Hectic behind the scenes parleys involving senior government ministers and leaders of some of the opposition parties finally paved the way to an agreement.

According to the deal, the government agreed to suspend question hour after the Opposition said it won’t demand a vote.
“We’ve always said we are prepared to discuss any issue that the opposition brings up, but the only thing we insisted was that a proper procedure be followed,” said parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Bansal.

The opposition seemed happy with the deal. “We want to know what steps the government is planning to curb price rise,” said SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.