Seeking to corner the government, 13 Opposition parties, excluding BJP and its allies, tonight announced plans to bring a cut motion in the Lok Sabha demanding roll back of prices of petroleum products and fertilisers. The parties, which account for 87 MPs in a House of 543, also decided to organise a nationwide strike on April 27 to press their demand.
"We shall unitedly move a cut motion (on demands for grants) and amendment to the Finance Bill demanding roll back in the relentless hike in prices of petroleum products and fertilisers", CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said at a joint press conference of leaders of the 13 parties which together have 87 members in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
However, BSP, which has 21 MPs, stayed away from the meeting, which can be of some significance for the Congress-led UPA coalition, whose support is estimated to be around 265.
Not wanting to do business directly with BJP and its allies directly, the 13 parties said that it was for the BJP and JD(U), another constituent of the BJP-led NDA, to decide their course of action.
BJP, which has 116 members, is also planning to move a cut motion on the issue of price rise and wants to move in the matter along with its allies in the NDA. JD(U) has 20 MPs, while other allies Shiv Sena and Akali Dal have 11 and four seats respectively.
BJP has given enough hints that it would not not be averse to doing business with the 13-party grouping on the cut motion issue. "We will make all efforts from our side on the issue of cut motion and will do everything it takes for floor coordination," party spokesperson Nirmala Seetharaman told reporters.
A cut motion could test the strength of the government in the House that could be a close test. If a cut motion is adopted the government of the day will have to resign because it is defeated on a money matter.
"We have also decided to organise a country-wide hartal (strike) on April 27," said Bardhan after the two-hour long parleys which saw differences persisting on the issue of Women's Reservation Bill.
"Our intention is not to topple the government but what can we do if it falls in the process," remarked RJD chief Lalu Prasad, with SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav speaking in similar vein. "Agar chamatkar ho gaya, to hum kya karen (What can we do if a miracle takes place)," remarked Mulayam.
The meeting took place two days ahead of resumption of the second phase of the Budget Session of Parliament resuming on April 15. Leaders of AIADMK, BJD, SP, RJD, TDP, RLD, LJP, JD-S, INLD, CPI(M), CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP attended today's meeting. PTI
