New Delhi: Parliament will discuss the issue of price rise on Thursday with the Opposition withdrawing from its firm stand of a discussion under an adjournment motion that entails voting.
An impromptu meeting between the Government and the Opposition in which representatives of BJP, JD(U), RJD, Left, BSP and other parties were present ended the deadlock. Both the Houses will discuss the issue without an adjournment motion.
Earlier, during the discussion in the Lok Sabha, Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandopadhyaya, whose party is a key partner in the UPA Government, dismissed suggestions that it was with the opposition on the issue of adjournment motion on price rise.
"An adjournment motion is almost like a no-confidence motion and since this government has a clear majority, there is no need for an adjournment motion," he said.
Most of the Opposition leaders, including those providing outside support to the Government like RJD chief Lalu Prasad, had pressed for a discussion through an adjournment motion.
Rejecting the Opposition demand citing rules of procedure and precedence, Speaker Meira Kumar held that prices of food items had not arisen suddenly.
Allowing a discussion under Rule 193 which does not entail voting, she observed that "the Chair is equally concerned about the burning issue of price situation".
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will reply to the discussion in the Lok Sabha for which seven hours are being allocated. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be intervening in the discussion.
Government sources said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could also intervene in the discussion given its importance.
The Opposition has been attacking the Government on the issue of food inflation, which is now nearly 18 per cent. Prices of essential commodities like sugar, pulses, rice and vegetables been rising in the recent months.
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