Government ready for debate on petrol product prices: Venkaiah Naidu

New Delhi: The government is ready for a discussion on the issue of petroleum prices, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said in the Lok Sabha as a notice of adjournment motion moved by some opposition members was disallowed. 

Soon after the House met for the day, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she had received notices of adjournment motion from Mallikarjun Kharge and Veerappa Moily (Cong), Bhagwant Mann (AAP), A Sampath (CPI-M), Saugata Roy (TMC) among others, but was disallowing them. 

She said while some issues have already been raised, others could be raised during Zero Hour. When Kharge wanted to know the exact time when he would be allowed to speak, she said an accurate time cannot be decided.

She was also critical of members for displaying placards, raising slogans and rushing to the Well, saying they were flouting rules framed by the members only. 

"Some members give notices of adjournment motion only to ensure that they are allowed to raise the issue during Zero Hour," she said. 

When some members raised the issue of hike in excise duty of petroleum products, Naidu said the government was open to discuss the issue provided the time is allocated by the Speaker. 

The government had yesterday increased excise duty on petrol by Rs 0.30 per litre and by Rs 1.17 a litre on diesel to make use of slump in oil prices to garner an additional Rs 2,500 crore. With their notices being disallowed, Congress members rushed to the Well raising slogans like 'insult of people of Arunachal Pradesh will not be allowed' and 'attack on the Constitution won't be allowed'. 

They were referring to certain actions of the Arunachal Pradesh Governor. AAP members were seen holding placards on their seats demanding remaining of Chandigarh airport after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. The Questiom Hour however continued amid din.