UPA, NDA agree on price rise debate

After both houses of Indian Parliament were adjourned for hours on Tuesday over a ruckus by the Opposition over price rise, the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has agreed on a demand for a debate on Wednesday.

Congress-led UPA agreed to the Opposition demand for a debate and also a voting on the issue of price rise and terrorism.

The debate on price rise under Rule 184 of the Lok Sabha also entails a vote.

Similar discussions would be held in the Rajya Sabha also, reports said.

Besides issues of various scams, Opposition parties are expected to up the ante of attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government in Parliament over the issue of burgeoning inflation.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had been demanding a voting debate on price rise on Tuesday in Parliament.

It also demanded suspension of Question Hour in both Houses. The houses were adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday, both houses of Parliament were adjourned over the 2G scam uproar as the Monsoon Session began on a stormy note despite the Prime Minister´s request to the Opposition to make this round productive.

In the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house, the opposition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded a discussion and vote on the 2G scam, following which the government side said such a debate could be held only if any individual or party was not named.

Soon noisy scenes followed and the house was adjourned by Vice President Hamid Ansari till 12 noon amid slogan shouting by the Opposition demanding a discussion on the 2G.

Later Opposition parties defined the government's move as "clearly being on the backfoot". "The guilty cannot lay down the rules of the game," senior BJP leaders said.