For a change, BJP today came to the rescue of the Government saving it from embarrassment as the Left parties pressed for a division on a bill to regulate pension funds at the introduction stage itself.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, was among a few senior ministers present and the attendance on the Treasury benches was thin ringing alarm bells for the Government.
The Treasury benches appeared to be caught unaware as the Speaker, Ms Meira Kumar, ordered division on the introduction of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2011 at the insistence of CPI(M) leader, Mr Basudeb Acharia.
“We are opposing introduction of the Bill. I am asking for division instead of a voice vote,” Mr Acharia said.
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the Leader of the House, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, the UPA chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, several ministers and members were not present in the House.
Mr Bansal cited rules which state that the member has to make a brief statement giving reasons for opposing a Bill. The person moving the Bill is also allowed to make a statement.
Mr Manish Tewari (Cong) pointed out that the rules state that a notice to oppose the introduction of a Bill, addressed to the Secretary General, has to be given by the member by 10:00 hours on the day on which the motion for leave to introduce the Bill is included in the list of business.
The Speaker gave a ruling in favour of division.
Mr Acharia was seen urging the senior BJP leader, Mr L.K. Advani, to support him. “We were opposing this legislation during UPA-I. They (government) are bringing it now,” he was heard telling Mr Advani.
During UPA-I, the Left parties with over 60 members, were key outside supporters of the government.
The Bill was introduced after a division of votes which showed as many as 115 members backing the proposed legislation, 43 opposing it and one member abstaining from voting. As many as 159 members were present in the 543-member House.
Later, a junior minister said the Prime Minister and Mr Pranab Mukherjee, who were scheduled to be present in the Rajya Sabha, could not make it to the Lok Sabha as the lobbies were cleared. After the lobbies are cleared, no member is allowed to enter the House.