India's opposition corners government over inflation

India's opposition parties stalled the country's parliament repeatedly Tuesday, forcing the government into agreeing to a debate on inflation, news reports said. The Congress-party led government has faced growing criticism over its handling of inflation, which has been hovering around 9 per cent for the past few months.
It has also been on the backfoot for months over serious corruption cases including a 40-billion-dollar telecoms licences scandal, considered India's biggest-ever graft case. Lawmakers from the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party as well as left-wing parties disrupted proceedings, demanding debates and a vote on both issues in order to censure the government. The government which rejected the demands, finally conceded to a debate on rising prices and scheduled it for Wednesday, the NDTV network reported.
"The discussion under rules that entail voting will make the government take a committed stand to deal with price rises," Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury told the IANS news agency.
The parliament's "monsoon" session - which has key bills on issues such as food security and government transparency on its agenda - opened on Monday. The BJP has said it will seek answers from Premier Manmohan Singh on the telecoms scandal as well as financial irregularities in the organisation of the Delhi Commonwealth Games. During the current session, the opposition party will also seek answers on terrorist attacks and national security. India's financial hub of Mumbai was hit by triple bombings last month which claimed 26 lives. Investigators have failed to make a breakthrough in the case.
The government intends to introduce and pass as many as 37 bills in this session, including key legislation to set up an anti-corruption ombudsman, provide subsidised foodgrains to the poor and regulate mining in the country. Maoist violence and farmer rights' are the other key issues that are expected to come up during the session that continues till September 8.