Deadlock
over the post of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha
continues with the Congress adamant over its claim and ruling BJP in no
mood grant the favour to the opposition party.
The
ministry of personnel on Friday July 11,2014 sought the opinion of the law ministry
and the Lok Sabha secretariat as to who was the LoP in the new House.
After
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi claimed the post on the opening day of the
Budget session on July 7,2014 the party on Wednesday made a formal
representation before Lok Sabha Speaker Suimtra Mahajan by submitted a
letter signed by 60 party members including its allies
The NDA Government has hardened its stance, citing rulings by former Speakers
and pointing out that there were no formally designated LoPs under
Congress governments in the past. "We have no problem over LoP, but,
that is the prerogative of Speaker. Only she has to decide,"
Parliamentary affairs minister M.Venkaiah Naidu said.
The
Congress is even prepared to move the court if the post is denied, said
party sources.The party claim stems from the fact that Salary and
Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977, clearly
mentions that the single largest party in the Opposition should get the
post of the LoP.
The Congress has also argued that the Leader of the
Opposition has become important over the past decades because the LoP
has a role in the panel which clears appointments to constitutional
posts like CVC, CBI, NHRC and Lokpal.
"These are crucial appointments and should not be done in the absence
of an LoP," Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha Jyotiraditya Scindia
said
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