gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu (Surekha Reddy Gaddam) (03/08/91)
New Delhi - Mar 7 (PTI): The leaders of various political parties Thursday agreed to pass "unconditionally" the vote-on-account and other business pending in the Lok sabha, the lower house of parliament on MONDAY. This was agreed to at a meeting of the leaders of all major political parties convened by the lok sabha speaker Rabi Ray in the afternoon. But at the fag end of the meeting Cong(I) representatives walked out saying they would not agree to the conditions imposed by the opposition parties on President R.Venkataraman. Other parties comprising, Janata Dal(S), The national Front, the left parties and the BJP had earlier through the speaker sought an assurance from the presidnet that he would "DISSOLVE THE HOUSE" and allow Chandrashekar to continue as caretaker Prime minister. Leader of the opposition in the house Lal Krishna Advani, told reporters here that during the meeting, the opposition had not put any condition but had only urged the speaker to convey their request in this regard to the president when he met him later in the day. He said the opposition had made this request as it had some "misgivings" about the behaviour of the Cong(I) in the past one month. PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS WITHOUT DOING BUSINESS: Both the houses of parliament adjourned Thursday till Monday without transacting any business following an agreement among political parties in the wake of the "constitutional crisis" following the PM's resignation. While the speaker Rabi Roy adjourned the house soon after it met for the day, the upper house was adjourned by the chairman Shanker Dayal Sharma. Cong(I) members were present in both the houses lifting their two-day boycott. The adjournment of both the houses was preceded by a meeting of leaders of all groups in the Lok sabha with the speaker Rabi Ray. The opposition groups had sought adjournment of the house till Monday demanding an assurance from the president that the house would be dissolved and fresh elections ordered before it passed interim budget of five states and parties decided on the fate of extension of president's rule in Punjab beyong May 11. The order paper for the day in the Lok sabha had listed consideration and passing of all the financial bills relevant to the budget. All the parties agreed on adjournment of parliament so that a clear picture could emerge and financial business be transacted on Monday. The speaker is scheduled to have another meeting with leaders of various groups later in the day. Narotham Reddy