Government's efforts to avert a confrontation in Parliament today came to a naught with the Opposition pressing for adjournment motions on price rise and black money, paralysing the Winter session for the second day.

No work was transacted in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha as uproar was also witnessed on other issues including, separate Telangana, leading to their adjournment for the day.

Added to the Opposition uproar were protests by two key UPA allies - DMK and NCP. While DMK members in the Lower House stormed the Well in protest against a film allegedly showing havoc caused by destruction of a dam in south India, NCP members raised the issue of restrictions on onion exports by displaying placards.

The two Houses were earlier adjourned till noon soon after assembling for the day as several members, including those from the Left, stormed the well.

In the Rajya Sabha, BSP members also trooped into the Well in support of the Left members, shouting slogans against price rise.

BJP members, however, did not go into the Well and kept pressing for admission of their adjournment motion on black money from their seats.

Only yesterday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had urged political parties to work together to push forward the development agenda for the country and government managers were hopeful of smooth proceedings in Parliament today.

The last session of Parliament could not transact much business despite heavy government agenda. The Winter session last year was a washout over opposition demand for a JPC probe into the 2G scam.

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Govt appeals to oppn to allow discussion on price rise

Charging the opposition with stalling Parliament, government today said it was ready for any kind of discussion including that on price rise as per the rules and appealed to it to allow functioning of the two Houses.

Government wants smooth functioning of Parliament to ensure passage of important pending bills, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat said. "We are ready for any discussion under the rules," said Rawat.

His colleague, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla also said, "Government was ready for a discussion on price rise. How does it matter whether there is voting or not? What is important is holding a discussion on price rise. We will give answers to every point raised by the opposition."

Accusing the opposition of attempting to scuttle functioning of Parliament, Rawat said government wanted early passing of 31 pending bills and wanted to introduce another 24 important bills.

Asked why government was opposed to the opposition demand for adjournment motion on price rise which entails voting, Rawat said, "It has to be as per the rules. It is the constitutional rules that are coming in the way, not government."

He said that as per rules, an adjournment motion can only be brought on an issue which is of recent origin. "The price rise issue is not recent. It is an ongoing process," he told reporters.

Shukla said, "We appeal to the opposition for participating in the discussion and suggest ways to curb inflation."