Parl logjam: LS Speaker optimistic after BJP meeting

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Thursday met government and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in a fresh attempt to break the Parliament logjam over JPC probe demand into the 2G Spectrum allocation scam.

Leader of Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, BJP veteran L K Advani, parliamentary affairs minister P K Bansal and his deputy V Narayansamy were present at the two-hour long meeting, which failed to come up with any concrete way out.

Kumar, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said she was hopeful of a solution soon as both sides wanted resumption of normal functioning of the Parliament.

?Both sides are very keen that the next session (of Parliament) should run in order … I am very, very optimistic on how the events will unfold,? she said.

?I am fully convinced that our democracy is very mature. There might be some ups and downs but whether they are leaders of the ruling party or the ruling coalition or leaders of the opposition they all are very committed to ensuring that Parliament runs,” she added.

On the entire Winter Session being washed out, Kumar said, ?It is a cause of concern for all of us and all this while I was worried.?

The Speaker is slated to meet non-BJP Opposition parties on Friday over the same issue.

The BJP and other Opposition parties have been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe since the 2G spectrum allocation became public, a demand steadfastly rejected by the ruling Congress.

BJP had also rejected the offer made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament in connection with the scam.