NDA ends its BAC boycott as Somnath finally relents

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and the NDA buried the hatchet today after the former assured the Opposition alliance that 8220;he will, as always, keep the issues raised by the opposition in mind8221;. Consequently, NDA leaders lifted their boycott of the Business Advisory Committee BAC meetings.

Though relations between Chatterjee and the Opposition have been far from smooth for a long time, the latest problems arose when the former conducted business, including a discussion under Rule 193, amidst din. The BJP wanted a clear assurance from the chair that business will not be conducted amidst disorder in the House unless it was an urgent financial matter or a bill aimed at replacing an ordinance. Such an assurance was obviously not forthcoming from the Speaker in black and white, but BJP leaders were inclined to believe that the other side would henceforth address this concern.

BJP spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra disclosed the party has decided to give notices under both Rules 193 and 184 for a discussion on the India-US nuclear deal. On its own part, the BJP would press for a debate under latter. He said while replying to questions that the party did not have much hope from the Left because the last time also it first raised objections and subsequently withdrew them with the familiar argument that it could not let the BJP derive benefit from the situation.