Left prepares an RS ambush over Iran

Accusing the Congress and BJP of working together to prevent a discussion on India’s vote on the Iranian nuclear programme at the Inter...

Accusing the Congress and BJP of working together to prevent a discussion on India’s vote on the Iranian nuclear programme at the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Left has planned to stall proceedings in the Rajya Sabha on Monday to force the House to take up the matter.

The CPI(M) took the decision on finding that Monday’s list of business for the Upper House has no mention of the issue, for which they had given a notice for short-duration discussion. The matter was earlier listed for discussion on February 23, but proceedings in both Houses were stalled by NDA members following the Indian Express report on the government’s letter to the CBI asking how it was proceeding against LK Advani in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

CPI(M) sources said House leaders had agreed to list the matter for Monday afternoon. But in its place is listed a discussion on the bill on minority educational institutions. In the Left’s view, this is a clever ploy by the government because, it believes, the government would not like to have the Left parties be seen opposing it.

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‘‘The Congress and the BJP are hand in glove to prevent a discussion on the Iran issue. This suits the government perfectly because it doesn’t want to show how Parliament is divided on the Iran issue before (US President George) Bush’s arrival,’’ said Sitaram Yechury, the CPI(M)’s MP in the Rajya Sabha.

The CPI(M) will now take up the matter at the Business Advisory Committee meeting on Monday morning, and if that does not work they will stall House proceedings.

However, government sources said it had been decided at the Business Advisory Committee meeting on Friday that the discussion on India’s vote on the Iranian nuclear programme in the IAEA would be held at the Prime Minister’s convenience. The PM is to make a statement on the Indo-US nuclear cooperation in both Houses on Monday, first in the Lok Sabha and then in the Rajya Sabha.

Seeing the government’s response on Iran so far, the Left has drawn up a line of action that will include finding a way to censure the government if it votes against Iran.

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