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Journalism of Courage
With the UPA and its Left friends putting up a united front on the Volcker Report, the stage is all set for the BJP-led Opposition to raise the issue under any rule, including an adjournment motion. But the government is not conceding the same ground to the Opposition on the Mitrokhin (archive) papers, a book which alleged KGB-kickbacks to some Left leaders during the Soviet era.
Making light of the Opposition intention to raise an issue in Parliament in response to Mitrokhin Archives, published abroad, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said: ‘‘The UPA can also bring books where some prominent Opposition leaders names appear in a not very flattering context.’’
After both the houses of Parliament were adjourned in remembrance of former president K.R. Narayanan and sitting MP Pratapbabu Patil, passed away recently, the NDA decided to disrupt the proceedings in case the government did not allow them to raise the Volcker and Mitrokhin issues, BJP’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha V.K. Malhotra said, adding that these were issues of utmost importance ‘‘as the nation’s interest’s were sold’’.
But Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who was willing to allow an adjournment motion on the Volcker issue, said it needs to be seen whether a discussion could be allowed on the Mitrokhin papers.
‘‘It is a book. Whether we can allow a discussion (on the allegations based on a book) is a point I have to take a decision because anybody can then seek to raise discussions on the basis of allegations in books,’’ Chatterjee said.
On Iraq oil-for-food scam, he said he has to see whether former external affairs minister Natwar Singh ‘‘can participate in the discussion’’ given that fact he has resigned.
