New Delhi: In an attempt to lift the Opposition boycott on Defence Minister George Fernandes in Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi is likely to take up the matter with party leaders asking them to end the deadlock.

The demands for grants for Defence is to be taken up in Lok Sabha when the House re- assembles after a 10-day break from April 11. This was decided by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the House.

"It is for the Speaker to take the initiative," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said when asked if she would take steps to break the impasse ever since Fernandes was embroiled in the Tehelka tape controversy.

The Speaker will talk to Opposition leaders, she said, adding if she were invited for the meeting, she would also attend.

Fernandes has been facing boycott in both Houses of Parliament for nearly two years with Opposition members refusing to ask questions to him saying they would not do so till he came out clean in the expose on Defence deals.

PTI