'Will do anything to avoid logjam in next session'

Anguished over the stalemate in Parliament over demand of Joint Parliamentary Committee into 2G Spectrum scam, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Friday said she would "do anything" to ensure that it does not spill over to the budget session.

"I have already done once and I would do again anything to run the Parliament. I would do," she told mediapersons in New Delhi when asked if she would appeal to the Opposition and the government to ensure that the logjam is not carried over to the next session.

The Speaker was talking to media on the sidelines of a programme organised by the National Human Rights Commission to observe human rights day.

The logjam over the demand for JPC probe has stalled both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for 21 consecutive working days with both the Houses again being adjourned due to pandemonium on Friday.

Kumar appealed to the Opposition to allow functioning of Parliament on Monday, the last day of the current session, saying she would be happy if this happens. "I am very anguished and I wish every day the Parliament was functioning and there would be high-level debates, but that has not happened," she said.

"There has been appeals made by me and I would again appeal. If we work on Monday I will be very happy," she added.

 When asked whether she was making efforts to ensure smooth functioning of the Parliament, she said one has to continue making the efforts in a democracy. "I will continue to make efforts."

She, however, evaded the question whether it was appropriate for the Human Resource and Development Minister Kapil Sibal to announce a probe into the 2G Spectrum allocation by a former Supreme Court judge outside Parliament when it was in session.

"I don't think you should be directing such questions to the Speaker because, you know, I have to be neutral. You ask me how to run Parliament, I would answer," she replied.