Parliament’s Winter Session ends with zero business

NEW DELHI - Amid an uproar by opposition lawmakers over a demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam, the Winter Session of Parliament was adjourned sine die.

This is the first time in 25 years that Parliament faced a complete shutdown.

The lawmakers deadlock over the 2G scam refused to die and both sides engaged in mudslinging equally.

The BJP-led NDA leaders, including L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and others also staged a protest in front of Parliament in support of their demand.

As soon as Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar completed obituary references to victims of the Parliament attack, opposition members, mainly from the BJP and SP, trooped into the well of the house.

The opposition members raised slogans like “We want JPC”, and “Form JPC or Quit Power”.

The Rajya Sabha also witnessed similar scenes.

Soon after Chairman Hamid Ansari paid homage to those killed in the Parliament attack, Opposition BJP and AIADMK members trooped into the well of the house demanding JPC probe into the 2G scam.

The Winter Session of Parliament began on November 9 and has witnessed repeated adjournments over the opposition’s insistence for a JPC probe into the 2G scam, even after A. Raja resigned as Communications and IT Minister.

Though, income tax raids and CBI raids kept the ante up for the Government for some time, the Opposition did not budge on its JPC demand.

A total of 114 crucial business hours was lost in Winter Session.

The Opposition has now announced plans to hold a rally against corruption at the Ram Lila Maidan on December 22 to keep the issue alive till the Budget Session due in February 2011. (ANI)