Comments
The Rajya Sabha witnessed dramatic scenes on Wednesday as the Opposition objected the government’s plan to get the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill passed without any discussion amid din.
The House was adjourned for a record 11 times due to protests.
While the Centre alleged that the Congress does not want an anti-corruption law to get passed, the Opposition retorted that the Centre is preventing discussions on important issues, including corruption and scams. The Opposition also argued that newly sworn members were not even given division numbers so that they can vote on the Bill.
The Opposition also demanded a discussion on the issue of atrocities against scheduled castes and tribes, and the banking scam.
A visibly upset Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said the protesting members are testing country’s patience. “I have allowed everything. I have allowed every issue. But unfortunately, you are not discussing them. It is really the misfortune of the people of India. Chairman allows discussion. The government is ready for discussion. And, you don’t want to have discussion! What is this? I am not able to understand. You are testing the patience of the people of the country,” he added. “We want discussion in Parliament. We want Bills to be passed. We represent the people of India in parliament. Should there be any issue of national importance and for that matter of State importance, the public representatives are also supposed to raise the issues on the floor of the House and draw the attention of the government towards those national and State issues,” Opposition leader in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
A delegation of Opposition leaders met Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on the disruptions.
Azad said no senior ministers have approached him or any other Opposition party leaders on behalf of the Centre.
“It should be a surprise for the entire country. They (the BJP) are scared that their involvement in the bank fraud, their involvement in so many other cases — that they will be caught and exposed and caught red-handed. It is the reason that they do not want House to run,” he added.
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.