Congress clashes with BJP, Left in acrimonious debate

New Delhi, Jul 21 (UNI) The debate in the Lok Sabha on the Confidence Motion moved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today proceeded on expected lines with the ruling alliance and the Opposition often trading charges against each other, even as Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee claimed that the Government has the support of 276 members.

The debate was not without acrimony leading to two adjournments and some scuffle, which often compelled Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to admonish the members and remind them that they must maintain the decorum of the House as the nation was watching them with keen interest.
Immediately after the Prime Minister moved the one-line motion that the House expresses confidence in the Council of Ministers, Leader of the Opposition L K Advani launched a scathing attack on the UPA government for hurrying through the Indo-US nuclear deal without evolving a consensus on the issue and its failure on variousfronts, including the spiralling prices and unabated terrorism invarious parts of the country.

Mr Advani said the BJP was not opposed to either nuclear energy or a closer and strategic relations with the United States. But he alleged that the deal would make India an "unequal" partner and if the BJP was voted to power, it would re-negotiate the nuclear deal between two equal partners.

The BJP stalwart questioned the secular credentials of the ruling alliance, saying that it should not put the Hindus at a disadvantage. The Prime Minister, in his five-minute introductory remarks, said the trust vote was not only on the deal, but also on thepolicies and performance of the UPA government. He maintained the deal was squarely in the interests of the nation.

Mr Pranab Mukherjee and Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said it was disparaging that the Opposition leaders and the Left parties had questioned the integrity of the Prime Minister, who was above board.

Throughout the debate, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Dr Singh and his cabinet colleagues as well as senior members of the BJP remained glued to their seats.

The Left leaders, including Mohammad Salim (CPM)and Mr Gurudas Dasgupta, accused the government of bulldozing the deal and betraying the supporting parties on the issue. Mr Dasgupta said that most of the suggestions of the Left had often been ignored andcited the petrol price hike as an instance.

Mr Dasgupta said it was with a heavy heart that the Left had to part ways with the UPA even though it was responsible for putting it in the ruling saddle.

The Speaker conducted the proceedings in his usual manner and kept the guessing game on as to whether he would obey the diktats from the party by resigning or defy it.

While the new found friend of the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, came to its defence, the BSP which is projecting its leader Mayawati as the Prime Ministerial candidate, spared no effort to attack the government.

Mr Ramgopal Yadav (SP) asked the entire opposition to either support the confidence motion or abstain from voting.

Mr Brajesh Pathak(BSP) charged that the government was being run by 'wheeler-dealers' and said the deal was an onslaught on the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
Mr Devendra Yadav(RJD) charged the BJP with "doublespeak", saying the BJP-ruled states were indulging in divisive politics.

The debate was also not without humour and wit. In a remark, Mr Anand Sharma told the BJP not to count its chickens before they were hatched, or rejoice at the Left leaving the UPA for they were in support of Mayawati as the Prime Minister.

Mr Advani, in his inimitable style, often had a dig at the government in his long speech. He remarked that the only problem that had engrossed the UPA for more than past one year was the nuclear deal as if it the was only thing that mattered to the commonman.

He said that while the IAEA draft was not a secret for the foreigners, it was so for Parliament.