Forget debates, ‘semi-final’ too hot to resist

Briefing journalists on the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meetings to finalise the agenda of both Houses, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj admitted that no major discussion has been scheduled for tomorrow and ‘‘rightly so because none of us will be interested and none of you will be interested either’’. But once the results are out of the way, it will be business as usual — with discussions scheduled on the Judeo tapes, the CVC issue, the Telgi stamp scam and the Assam-Bihar conflict. According to Swaraj, the Centre had no objection to discussions on any of these issues and left it to the Speaker to decide the form in which they would take place.

The Speaker has sought a ‘‘factual note’’ from the Cabinet secretary on both the CVC and Judeo issues, Swaraj said. He would take a decision on whether to allow an adjournment motion on the basis of the ‘‘factual note’’ as well as the Opposition’s argument.

On the Judeo issue, the Centre has agreed to the demand for a statement from the Prime Minister. Since Vajpayee will be out of the country till December 7, the statement will be made either on December 8 or 9, Swaraj said. A discussion will follow the statement.

As regards the issue of the Assam-Bihar violence, the discussion will revolve around the entire railway recruitment policy and will take place on Friday after Question Hour. The lunch break will be suspended and the discussion may continue in the evening, if necessary, Swaraj said. Discussion on the Telgi scam will take place once the PM returns next week.