FILE photo of Robert Vadra, businessman and Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law
As the ruling BJP, cornered by a united opposition, launched counter-attacks on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pitch for parliamentary debate on Thursday saying, "People have a lot of expectations from MPs, we need to work towards fulfilling those.
Here are 10 developments:
As a deadlock continued in Parliament with repeated adjournments of both houses, the PM also said, "Some members know rules of the House very well. They know the moment rules are violated. I appreciate this." He was speaking at the inauguration of a new research cell for lawmakers.
With the Congress refusing to climb down from its demand that three top BJP ministers must resign, the BJP hit back seeking action against Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who it said had "criticised the functioning of Parliament" in a Facebook post earlier this week.
BJP lawmakers shouted slogans in the House against Mr Vadra, who had said on Facebook, "Parliament begins and so do their petty diversion political tactics... People of India are not fooled. Regret to see India Led by such so called leaders !!"
A privilege motion moved by the BJP's chief whip in the Lok Sabha Arjun Ram Meghwal alleged that Mr Vadra's post amounted to "contempt" and a "clear cut case of breach of privilege" and so should be referred to the privileges committee for "appropriate decision."
Outside Parliament, the BJP continued its attack on Congress chef ministers. On Thursday it accused Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh of corruption, a day after it had made allegations against Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat.
The Congress' aggressive attack on the government over its controversy-hit leaders was led by vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who made it clear that there would be no debate on what is being called Lalitgate, till foreign minister Sushma Swaraj resigns.
"Sushma has done a criminal act. He is a fugitive," Rahul Gandhi said about the foreign minister having helped tainted cricket boss Lalit Modi get documents to travel out of Britain. "Our advice to the PM is this - your credibility is being eroded, listen to the people's concern. Answer them by speaking on the controversies," he said.
The government has said it is willing to debate with the opposition, but has rejected calls for the resignations of Ms Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for the Lalit Modi scandal and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the Vyapam recruitment scam.
The stand-off between the opposition and the government has meant that the first three days of Parliament's 21-day monsoon session have been squandered with noisy disruptions forcing adjournments. Crucial legislation, including the major tax reform of the National Goods and Services Tax, are pending.
The Left and some other opposition parties have backed the Congress demand for the removal of Ms Swaraj and the two chief ministers, for what they call national scandals. The Samajawadi Party says it only wants the chief ministers removed.
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