MPs' suspension row: Oppn gives cold response to Centre's invite to break deadlock in RS

The Centre has called a meeting with five political parties on Monday whose MPs have been suspended from the Rajya Sabha to break the deadlock between the government and the Opposition in the House.

New Delhi: The Central government invitation to five political parties for a discussion on Monday to break the deadlock in the Rajya Sabha got a cold response from the opposition. The meeting is called to find a way out on 12 suspended MPs from the Rajya Sabha for their alleged 'unruly behaviour'. The government is keen on taking the opposition into confidence as several key bills are awaiting discussion. Opposition is crying foul at the government's invite and said it want to divide the opposition, which is not going to happen as it is united.

The Central government called a meeting of five political parties on Monday whose 12 MPs were suspended from the Rajya Sabha for their alleged 'unruly behaviour'. The meeting, which is scheduled at 10 am this morning, is intended to break the stalemate in the Rajya Sabha. The meeting has been called after Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu had asked the opposition and the government to meet and reach an understanding on the issue on Friday.

"The opposition leaders will meet in Parliament on Monday to take a decision on taking part in the meeting called by the government,” Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut had confirmed on Sunday. CPl MP Binoy Viswam had also earlier said that the meeting is confirmed, although the CPI is yet to take a decision on whether or not to attend it. There is therefore no certainty of all the invited opposition parties attending the meeting, as it is aimed at finding an amicable solution to the conflict in the ongoing session of Parliament.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had on Sunday written a letter to the opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, Shiv Sena, CPM and CPI, inviting them for the meeting. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge, however, reverted to Joshi in a negative tone implying that he finds it unfair and unfortunate that the meeting has to be called.

It may be recalled that 12 Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended from the House on the first day of the ongoing parliamentary sessions for 'unruly behaviour', taking away their authority to participate in the entire winter session. The suspended MPs belong to five opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, Shiv Sena, CPI and CPM. The 12 MPs are — Phulo Devi Netam, Chhaya Verma, Ripun Bora, Rajamani Patel, Syed Nasir Hussain and Akhilesh Prasad Singh of the Congress; Dola Sen and Shanta Chhetri of TMC; Priyanka Chaturvedi and Anil Desai of Shiv Sena; Elamaram Kareem of CPI(M) and Binoy Viswam of CPI.

After the suspension, the decision met a staunch protest with the 12 MPs sitting on a dharna every day in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister had earlier said that the government was ready to consider revoking the suspension of the MPs if they apologise for their conduct in the House while the opposition leaders rejected the government's proposal and said that they would not seek an apology. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned several times due to the ruckus in the Upper House by the opposition parties demanding revocation.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of the floor leaders of "like-minded" parties in Parliament on Monday. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 9.45 am today.