The Centre on Thursday scored a point over the Opposition by flatly denying an answer from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of communal disturbances in the country. Though Modi was present in the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition continued to argue that the debate cannot be started unless there is an assurance that he will reply to the debate.

In its fourth day, the impasse dogging the Upper House seemed to have started impacting Opposition unity. A senior Opposition leader told BusinessLine on condition of anonymity that initiating the debate on “forcible conversions” in the presence of Modi would have given a strong message to the Centre. “We lost a chance,” he added.

The issue remains unresolved and is likely to affect the House’s functioning on Friday too. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the PM may have intervened in the debate, but the Opposition was not willing for a debate.

CPI(M) member P Rajeev, who moved a motion in the House demanding that attacks against the secular fabric of the country be condemned, said since the issue is related to several government departments, the PM should answer the debate. Treasury members questioned this argument and said the Opposition cannot dictate who answers a debate. The House could not take up any business as the ruckus continued.

Earlier, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu made it clear the Centre is not opposed to debate. “In this very House, the PM made a statement on the request of the Opposition... Three days (later) the House was not allowed to function...I repeat the government’s stand. If they want a discussion, let it start just now,” Jaitley said.

Prestige issue

Venkaiah said the Home Minister will reply to the debate. There is no question of the Prime Minister doing it, he added categorically. Congress leader Anand Sharma insisted that the House will not function if Modi does not reply. “The Prime Minister is a good speaker...he should reply,” Sharma said.

Other opposition parties, such as the JD(U) and the BSP, also urged the Prime Minister to reply to the debate and urged the Centre to not to make it a prestige issue.

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