New Delhi: Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendu Shekhar Roy on Tuesday urged Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to allow a half hour discussion on increasing prices of essential commodities in the country. Naidu refused to admit notices given by several opposition members seeking suspension of business to discuss increasing prices of petroleum products and other essential commodities, saying the Opposition was provided the opportunity to discuss the issue during Appropriation Bill and Finance Bill. “If a section is disturbing the House, what will I do? I am not going to suspend the business for this. I understand the concerns, not allowing the House, and getting it adjourned is not going to help anybody,” Naidu said. Trinmool’s Roy said the opposition needs a “structured discussion” on rising prices. “It is true that during Finance Bill or Appropriation Bill, some casual references were made regarding prices of petroleum products. What we want is a structured discussion. If a discussion under rule 267 is not allowed, kindly allow us to move a notice for a half hour discussion on the issue, tomorrow or the day after,” Roy said. Earlier, leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge lodged a protest at repeatedly disallowing opposition notices over priced rise. “Everyday we request discussion on petrol, diesel, CNG, PNG, DAP… the prices of so many commodities are increasing. If discussion on the issue won’t take place in the House, where will it take place, Sir? If the government is not ready to discuss, where will we raise our concerns? They don’t spare farmers and the poor,” Kharge said. UNI ASU MR
