Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Tuesday. (Agence France-Presse)
As Parliament began its Monsoon Session, the government said that it is ready for a debate on "Lalitgate" - the controversy that has engulfed two of its top leaders. But raucous protests by the opposition prevented that.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for the Opposition to work with the government. "We want to take the country forward," he said on his way into parliament. "I hope parliament will respect the country's aspirations."
But the opposition stuck to its demand for the resignation of three top BJP leaders - Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chief Ministers Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Chouhan. The government has said no action will be taken against them.
The impasse between the government and the Opposition risks the government's reform agenda, especially the introduction of the national Goods and Services Tax (GST), considered the biggest tax reform since independence.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned before noon as a mark of respect for members who have died.
In the Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley offered a debate "right now" on Lalit-gate - the scandal based on favours extended by Mrs Swaraj and Ms Raje to tainted cricket tycoon Lalit Modi, who lives in London.
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted, "I am ready for a debate today itself. I asked Shri Arun Jaitley to convey this to Rajya Sabha."
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson PJ Kurien agreed to put all other matters on hold to allow the debate, but Congress leaders chose instead to disrupt the house, leading it to be adjourned for the day.
The Congress says it will not let Parliament function unless Ms Swaraj and Ms Raje are removed, along with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, whose government is beleaguered by a job recruitment or Vyapam scam.
Opposition leaders like Sitaram Yechury of the Left pointed out that when the BJP was in the opposition, it had also insisted that ministers tainted by corruption must resign while an inquiry is conducted against them.
The BJP said that state issues - the controversies around Chief Ministers Chouhan and Raje - cannot be brought to parliament, but said it was ready to debate "all other issues." Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said, "We have nothing to hide."
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