Oppn suspends House blockade

Opposition wants apology from PM for conspiracy charge against Manmohan Singh; if apology is not forthcoming, blockade will resume

The Opposition leaders on Tuesday decided to suspend their blockade of Parliament for four days until Friday after a truce initiative by Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.

The opposition has been forcing adjournment of the House since start of the winter session last Friday. There are eight more sittings after Friday -- from December 27 to 29 and January 1 to 5 -- that may be hit if they resume the blockade from next week.

They made it clear to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that the blockade will be resumed unless Prime Minister Modi apologises and withdraws his insinuation of ‘conspiracy’ against his predecessor Manmohan Singh.

Jaitley was conveyed the Opposition's joint stand at a meeting he had called in deference to Venkaiah Naidu's directive earlier in the day to sort out the stalemate outside and let the House conduct its normal business. Jaitley sought time to enable him to speak to Modi and get back to them. "Our truce is only up to Friday to get back the PM's response," Congress sources said, adding that the ball is now in Modi's court whether he wants smooth conduct of the belated winter session up to January 5 or not.

Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told the chairman in the Rajya Sabha that the Opposition also wants the House to function, provided the irritant is withdrawn.

New Delhi: Soon after the ongoing Parliament winter session resumed on Tuesday, Congress leaders in Rajya Sabha opposed the Centre’s plan to set up 12 special courts to try pending criminal cases against MPs and MLAs.

Addressing the Upper House, Congress MP Anand Sharma said if the perception was created that special courts were needed only for MPs, other people should not have to bear the brunt of it. He added it had an inherent potential to be abused in entirety by the government of the day, reports ANI.

Sharma further asked the government to ensure adequate funds for setting up special courts to try criminal cases against politicians.