File photo of Union minister Nitin Gadkari
A day before the Budget Session of Parliament ends, the government is still scrambling to push key bills through and the Opposition remains resolute that it will stall proceedings, like Monday, demanding the resignation of Union minister Nitin Gadkari.
The Congress has moved adjournment motions in both Houses, seeking to suspend regular business to discuss a report of the national auditor CAG that alleges irregularities in a loan given by a government-run company to the Purti Group, in which Mr Gadkari owned stakes.
Parliament convened today to sloganeering and protests from the opposition benches.
Yesterday, the minister had denied wrongdoing and alleged a political conspiracy in a statement in Parliament that was mostly drowned out by Opposition protests, which led to multiple disruptions.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned nine times.
The protests against the minister are seen by the government as a strategy to stall its flagship Goods and Services Tax Bill, which has to be discussed in the Upper House. It has been passed by the Lok Sabha.
As a constitutional amendment bill, the GST needs the support of two-thirds of the House and the government will need the support of Opposition parties.
The ruling BJP has been able to split the Opposition, winning the support of regional parties that rule states, including the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Biju Janata Dal. The Bahujan Samaj Party, too, supports the bill.
The Congress, say sources, believes that its biggest bet to stall business is to rally support against Mr Gadkari.
Mr Gadkari said in his statement yesterday, "The loan was returned. There was a one-time settlement. The CAG has nowhere named me as a wrongdoer nor there is any adverse comment against me." He added that he has not been associated with the company since 2011.
"The report is being deliberately misinterpreted for political reasons," the minister said.