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Shinde blinks, regrets saffron terror remarks New Delhi, February 20 The remark by Shinde at the Congress session in Jaipur had resulted in the BJP delivering a threat which could have cast a shadow on the Budget session which begins tomorrow. Congress parliamentary managers and BJP leaders agreed to work together on the Shinde issue who, late in the evening today, stated that he had no intention to link terror to any religion, almost echoing the party stand that terror has no colour. Aware that turbulence is waiting to hit both the Houses over the VVIP helicopter scam, the government decided to blunt the Opposition attack somewhat as Shinde is also the Leader of the Lok Sabha. It has decided to face the Left parties’ onslaught asking for the resignation of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien for his alleged involvement in the 1996 Suryanelli sex scandal. Kurien today sought to reach out to MPs by making them aware of the case. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath insisted that the government would not agree to any discussion on it since “the case is clear. It has been cleared by the Supreme Court. We will not agree to hold a discussion in any House of Parliament on a subject of state politics”. At the pre-session meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, leaders insisted they want the House to function while maintaining the right to raise issues that are agitating the people. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated at the meeting that Parliament is a forum for discussion, dialogue and all parties have an obligation to ensure that it runs smoothly. He expressed hope and confidence that the Budget session would be fruitful in which
Parliament would have to transact important financial business. “It is our sincere hope that we will have a productive, constructive debate leading to agreed solutions to the many national problems that our country faces. I have said this before and I repeat it again. Parliament is a forum for discussion, for dialogue, and all parties have an obligation to ensure that Parliament runs smoothly,” Manmohan Singh said. After a strategy session, Law Minister Ashwani Kumar told The Tribune that the government wants Parliament to function smoothly and transact important legislation on food security, whistle-blowers’ protection, Lokpal and amendment to criminal laws dealing with sexual assault against women. The government has an additional day tomorrow to narrow down differences with other parties since Parliament will adjourn for the day after the President's address to the joint session. A protest by Left MPs before the session - in the form of a sit-in to express solidarity with the ongoing nationwide strike by trade unions - is the only thing on the agenda right now. The NDA, after a meeting of the coalition, indicated that it would not allow the government any breathing space in this session. Its convener Sharad Yadav said, “On February 22, we will raise the issue of corruption in the helicopter deal in both Houses at noon. Before every session of Parliament, a new scam surfaces." In response, Nath reiterated that the government was willing to have any type of inquiry on which there was political consensus as the helicopter issue was not only about corruption but was also a slur on the country’s image. “We must have complete, transparent and very incisive inquiry," he said.
PM hopeful of Smooth session
It is our sincere hope that we will have a productive, constructive debate leading to agreed solutions to the many national problems that our country faces. Parliament is a forum for discussion, for dialogue, and all parties have an obligation to ensure that Parliament runs smoothly. — Manmohan Singh, PM
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