Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 15, 2007
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Nandigram_Left_wont_allow_House_debate/articleshow/2543240.cms
[Note from Hindu Vivek Kendra: Gujarat was
also a state subject. Why was it discussed in parliament? Why the parlaiment
was disrupted?]
As opposition BJP plans to disrupt Parliament
proceedings on the Nandigram issue, the Left parties decided not to allow
it to be raised saying it was a "state subject".
After a meeting of four Left parties, the
leaders maintained that the Nandigram issue was a "state law and order
subject" which could not be discussed in Parliament as rules did not
permit such matters to be raised.
"Parliament functions according to rules.
Whatever the rules permit, can be discussed. ...Nandigram can be discussed
in the West Bengal assembly but not in Parliament," CPI leader Gurudas
Dasgupta told a joint press conference with other Left leaders including his
party colleague D Raja and CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury, Basudeb Acharia and Rupchand
Pal.
Recalling the police firing on Nandigram agitators
on March 14 when a demand for debate was made by Leader of Opposition L K
Advani, Acharia said Deputy Speaker C S Atwal had then ruled that it could
not be discussed as it was a state subject. "That ruling still stands,"
he said.
The mood of the Left parties seemed to be
geared up to meet any threat of the saffron party and its ally Trinamool Congress
to disrupt proceedings.
"The BJP always has issues to stall proceedings.
In the last session, it had raised the demand for a joint parliamentary committee
on the Indo-US nuclear deal", which was not permitted as per rules, Dasgupta
said.
"It is our open appeal to Advani to allow
Parliament to function and not denigrate Parliament," he said adding
there were all indications that BJP would stall proceedings on Monday.
