PM spectator to Left fire

Taking a dig at the BJP for going to court over both Goa and Jharkhand, he said, the ‘‘issues relating to legislature has to be decided on the floor of the House and taking it to court, while boycotting House proceedings, amounts to almost sounding death knell of parliamentary institutions, of which political parties are by-products.’’

He then lectured both sides — the Treasury and Opposition — requesting them to introspect on the verdict in Bihar. ‘‘This was age of engagement as no political party or front could get people’s confidence in recent elections in two states and this left scope for interpretation.’’ While making it clear the Left would continue supporting the government, he picked on the UPA privatisation policy, thereby deflecting attention from Jharkhand and Bihar.

Describing the UPA’s aviation policy as ‘‘anything but transparent’’, he questioned the shutting down of the old Hyderabad airport when the new airport in the city, built by private parties, becomes operational. ‘‘Eighty per cent of the (Airport Authority’s) public money is sunk in the old airport,’’ he said.

The CPI(M) MP also slammed the government’s decision to raise the FDI cap in the telecom sector, saying the money for the purpose can be raised through efficient collection of access deficit charge and commitments of private players to universal service obligation fund.

Admitting that tele-density in the country has gone up, Basu said it was only in the urban areas and it was all at the cost of the rural sector.

Inside parliament

Jaswant criticises Manmohan

NEW DELHI: Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Jaswant Singh on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for allowing the erosion of ‘‘great institutions’’. ‘‘We have failed the country,’’ said the BJP leader, referring to the recent political developments in Goa, Jharkhand and Bihar. Singh, who was leading the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address to Parliament, bemoaned the fact that senior leaders of the UPA coalition and senior Cabinet colleagues had disclaimed their awareness of last week’s developments.

Alert on Nepal border: Patil

Home Minister Shivraj Patil admitted the volatile political situation in Nepal could spill over into India, though security forces were on full alert along the porous border between the two countries. ‘‘We’ve stepped up vigilance in states bordering Nepal with the deployment of the Sashastra Seema Bal , and have asked state governments to increase vigil and intensify patrolling to prevent Maoists coming in and to check undesirable activities on our side of the border.’’ Patil also said he would encourage the restoration of democracy in Nepal.

‘No blame game over tsunami’

The Home Minister gave a clean chit to government officials who erred in raising the tsunami alarm, and said there was no need for a blame game in times of disaster. ‘‘We have to be understanding and realistic in such matters,’’ he said. —ENS