Parliament logjam continues

Even as the winter session of Parliament continues to be plagued by the deadlock over the 2G spectrum scam issue, the government on Thursday went about completing the financial business in both Houses.

The Lok Sabha passed the supplementary demands of Rs.1,024.61 crore for the Railways amid uproar. Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha, which returned the supplementary demands (general) for Rs.45,000 crore and the relevant appropriation bills for 2010-11.

The supplementary demands for the Railways were passed in the Lok Sabha by voice vote, even as several members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena and the Janata Dal (United) stormed the well of the House, reiterating their demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam. The Lok Sabha also passed demands for excess grants for the Railways for 2008-09.

With the approval of the supplementary demands for the Railways, the Lok Sabha has completed its financial business, while the Rajya Sabha is expected to do so on Friday.

Initially, both Houses were adjourned within a couple of minutes of assembling for the day and met again at noon to transact the financial business, even as Opposition members continued with slogans such as “We want JPC.”

Soon after completing the business, both Houses were adjourned for the day on the 15th straight working day.