After three days of acrimony and paralysation of both Houses of Parliament, the Centre and the Opposition got busy on Thursday to try finding a way out of the impasse on the mode of discussion on price rise. Sources indicated a solution was in sight and both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha were likely to discuss price rise on a mutually-agreed format on Monday.

Sources said the Opposition was insistent upon a debate under Rule 184, which implied voting at the end. The Centre was opposed to it because it meant the same as an adjournment motion. The focus is now shifted to the formulation of the motion to be taken up for discussion to find a common meeting ground between the two sides. “The motion may express a concern of the House over price rise,” sources said.

Speaker Meira Kumar said in reply to a question that she had received notices for a debate under Rule 184 and she was considering them. Those who have given notices included leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Janata Dal (U) president Sharad Yadav, CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia and CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta. “We are trying to find a way out,” Kumar told media adding, “Price rise is a serious issue and people also want something to happen. Let us see how we find a way out by taking everyone together.”

Before peace efforts got underway, both Houses were adjourned for the day after the Opposition disrupted proceedings and demanded that the presiding officers allow discussions on price rise under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha and under Rule 168 in the Rajya Sabha. “We will not allow Question Hour,” Swaraj declared. The House must discuss price rise first, she added. While maintaining that “we were saddened” by her ruling on Wednesday, she told the Speaker that “since you had said that the issue of price rise can be discussed under any other rule, we want Question Hour to be set aside and a discussion on the matter taken up immediately.”

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