The Central government’s efforts to avoid sending the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill to a select committee were defeated by a united Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

The move does not augur well for the NDA government’s plans to get crucial reform Bills such as the Land Acquisition Bill, the Insurance Bill and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha.

Amid protests from treasury members, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien ruled that a meeting of the floor leaders scheduled for Wednesday could fix the timeframe and composition of the proposed panel. While the Centre accused the Opposition of “playing a game” to delay the mining process and thus stall development, the Opposition advised the Centre to follow Parliamentary mechanisms and pass key pieces of legislation without haste. The Opposition argued that the amended Bill has not passed the scrutiny of a standing committee.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley argued that the motion of CPI (M) deputy leader P Rajeeve on sending the Bill to a select committee was defective as MPs recommended to be members of the panel (in the motion) also spoke during the debate on the motion and the principles of the legislation.

Rajeeve countered the Finance Minister by pointing out that Jaitley himself had participated in a debate on the Lokpal Bill and had functioned as a member of the select committee on the Bill.

The Opposition has moved similar motions on sending the Motor Vehicles Bill and the Coal Bill to a select committee.

Although the Trinamool Congress, BJD and JD (U) said they did not have major issues with the content of the Bill, they felt every voice should be heard before its passage.

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