New Delhi, April 20
With the Congress keeping up the momentum over the demand for the ouster of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the stalemate in Parliament over the Gujarat situation is unlikely to be resolved even on Monday.

Not only are Congress workers holding district-level meetings in different parts of the country to seek the removal of the Gujarat Chief Minister, a Congress Working Committee member has been going to Ahmedabad for the past six days to take part in the relay fast at Sabarmati Ashram. While AICC treasurer Motilal Vora was in Ahmedabad yesterday, Ms Ambika Soni took part in the relay fast today.

Congress leaders say that there is little possibility of the party agreeing to the discussion on Gujarat under a rule which does not entail voting. They say that the issue concerning Gujarat does not pertain to law and order but about the very edifice of civil society. “It is linked to the survival of India as a pluralistic society,” a Congress leader said.

The Congress is also under pressure from other Opposition parties to not show any flexibility on the Gujarat issue. Though some senior Congress leaders had suggested during informal discussions that the Rajya Sabha could be allowed to function by changing the text of notice now given under Rule 170 which entailed voting, the proposal was shot down.

With no indication yet of any fresh initiative from the government to resolve the impasse in Parliament, the House may not resume its normal functioning on Monday. Accusing the government of being “intransigent,” Congress leaders say the government is not prepared for a discussion under a rule which entails voting as it is unsure of the numbers.

The BJP-led government, they point out, is unwilling to commit itself to a vote in Parliament as some of its crucial allies have still not given up their demand for Mr Modi’s resignation.