Ahead of the much awaited debate on the Indo-US nuclear deal in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the government made it clear that the views expressed by members in the discussion could not be taken as reflecting the ?sense of the House?.
The stand, on the eve of the debate, clearly was aimed at offsetting charges that might be levelled by the main opposition and the CPI(M) the government was isolated and in a minority on the nuclear issue.
??Sense of the House cannot be obtained in a short duration discussion under Rule 193 which does not entail voting.?? ??In parliamentary system sense of the House can only be taken only through voting on a particular issue,?? parliamentary affairs minister PR Dasmunshi told reporters. He also asserted that PM Manmohan Singh could intervene during the discussion, which would be replied by Pranab Mukherjee.
Party managers, however, indicated that a posse of speakers were being lined up from the UPA which included union ministers including Lalu Prasad of RJD, T R Baalu (DMK) and Sharad Pawar of NCP. From the Congress, other speakers would include Kapil Sibal as well as young MPs like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot. Dasmunsi said that a discussion on the issue in the Rajya Sabha was only possible next week.