The Parliament was adjourned today after opposition BJP attacked the Government for making a private committee to review the nationally important, Indo-US nuclear deal.
New Delhi/Lucknow, Sept 5 : The Parliament was adjourned today after opposition BJP attacked the Government for making a 'private' committee to review the nationally important, Indo-US nuclear deal.
However, the adjournment helped leaders of Left parties and the Congress to reject the BJP's demand in unison.
Though the strained relationship between the Left leaders did not transform into camaraderie on the issue today, but the leaders from the two parties criticised BJP for stalling the Parliament on 'flimsy grounds' and alleged that the opposition was not willing to discuss the Sachar report that reviewed the conditions of Muslims in the country.
Ruling out constitution of a JPC for the nuke deal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi said: "This is nothing but an attempt to prevent the debate on the Sachar Committee."
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sriprakash Jaiswal said, "Since independence or Parliament's formation, a JPC has never been formed on a pact. We have formed a committee, that is our alliance and no one has the right to comment on our arrangement."
On Tuesday, the UPA Government announced the name of the members of the 15-member political panel consisting of coalition leaders and the Left, who provides a crucial support to the Government from outside.
The committee, which has External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee as the convenor, comprises six Congress leaders, six leaders of the Left Front and one from UPA constituents RJD, DMK and the NCP.
Mukherjee's senior cabinet colleagues A K Antony, P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, Saifuddin Soz, Prithviraj Chavan, Lalu Prasad of RJD, T R Baalu of DMK and Sharad Pawar will be the other members representing the government.
Left parties will be represented by Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), A B Bardhan and D Raja (CPI), Debabrata Biswas (Forward Bloc) and T J Chandrachoodan of RSP.
However, the BJP continued to remain firm on its demand.
"Why is this committee formed? By forming a private committee and its announcement is disrespect of opposition. They have made the house irrelevant and redundant. We have opposed it and the whole NDA is united on the issue. We have demanded for a JPC and our demand remains," said BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra.
Meanwhile, the United States, said the agreement was beneficial for both the countries.
"United States of America continues to believe it's a good agreement that will support India's development and provide it with safe and reliable source of electricity to power its rapidly growing economy," said Larry Schwartz, a diplomat in the U.S. mission in New Delhi.
ANI