New Delhi:
Parliament has been facing a series of adjournments over the Govt-Opposition stand-off regarding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam. With both sides refusing to budge from their stands, the Houses have not been able to run business as usual.
But on Wednesday, for the first time in weeks, some business was finally done amid an Opposition uproar over the JPC demand.
It almost looked impossible in the din but the government was determined to get finance business through. So, supplementary Demands for Grants and the Appropriation bills - allowing finances to flow to the states - were passed without debate and just a voice vote.
There was behind the scenes action as well - Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee called Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and asked her to help pass the bills. Opposition decided they will continue their protest without disrupting passage of bills.
Law Minister Veerappa Moily also managed to introduce the Judicial Accountability Bill which looks into crucial aspects like 'uncle judges' or nepotism in judicial appointments. But Pranab Mukherjee voiced his concern over the haste in the House. He said, "I am not at all happy that we have to pass the supplementary demands in din and bustle. The time is running out."
The government is hoping this kind of understanding with the Opposition will also help it pass bills in Rajya Sabha this week.