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Sunday a crucial day to end Parliament logjam

July 31, 2010 21:32 IST

The Opposition, as well as the United Progressive Alliance, want to end the Parliament logjam, but none is ready to come first on this. The only day left to bring peace is Sunday.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pavan Kumar Bansal, who is the key floor manager and coordinator between the Opposition and the Treasury Benches,
will have to play an important role to ensure smooth functioning of the Parliament.

Bansal is presently on a private visit to the holy Vaishno Devi temple with his family. He has initiated a process to bring a peace, and have earlier discussed the issue with Sushma Swaraj -- Pavan's college mate in Chandigarh and now the Leader of Opposition.

Sunday night is crucial to end the logjam, otherwise the Parliament may not function even on Monday.

In the UPAII, there is no senior leader other than Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee who has the stature to call up the Bharatiya Janata Party or Communist Party of India-Marxist leaders to have a track two level of contacts.

Some ministers had tried -- but the nod from UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was not available. There is no leader in the Congress who can make an international call to Sonia to seek her guidance except her advisor Ahmed Patel. And even Patel would not want to disturb the private visit of Madam.

On Saturday, many leaders were away from Delhi. And no effort at the government level was taken up. Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitely was in Mumbai to undergo a medical checkup and is scheduled to reach Delhi on Sunday. Pranab Mukherjee was also busy on Saturday in Delhi with a group of ministers meeting.

Pained at the developments, Chairman of Rajya Sabha Dr Hamid Ansari also expressed his dismay over the frequent adjournments and behaviour of the representatives that has stalled work in the Parliament.

Dr Ansari would also continue his efforts on Sunday.

A Correspondent in New Delhi