In the wake of frequent disruptions in Rajya Sabha over the Women’s Reservation Bill, the BJP on Monday criticised the Government for “not having a strategy” for its passage and indicated that it will not vote on the measure if it is held without a debate.
“The Government should have a roadmap and strategy for passing such an important Bill. We are not in favour of passing such a vital Bill without a discussion. It (a discussion) is a requirement for a Constitutional Amendment as the basic structure of the Constitution will change,” Deputy Leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha S.S. Ahluwalia said.
He maintained that unlike an ordinary legislation, a Constitutional Amendment requires discussion and division of votes.
BJP sources insisted that passing such an important Bill without any discussion in a way dents its legitimacy even though the numbers are overwhelmingly in favour of the Bill with the Left parties and the Congress supporting it.
The main opposition also sought to put the blame for the pandemonium in the Upper House to lack of strategy on part of the UPA coalition and its attempt to take “all the credit” for passing the important legislation.
Showing posts with label debate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label debate. Show all posts
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Govt agrees to discuss price rise in Lok Sabha
The speaker would decide on a short duration discussion on price rise during the ongoing Budget Session in Lok Sabha
Apparently bowing to opposition pressure, Government on Monday agreed to a discussion in the Lok Sabha tomorrow on rising prices, an issue that has brought almost the entire Opposition and some key UPA allies together.
A meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha presided by Speaker Meira Kumar saw the government yielding to the demand in the backdrop of the Opposition threat to move an adjournment motion tomorrow if the government failed to hold a discussion on the issue.
“We have agreed for a short duration discussion and now it is for the Speaker to take a decision,” a minister said.
Noting that the government has agreed to break the convention to take up the price rise issue, he said normally the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address is taken up first.
The government’s move has come close on the heels of top opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, meeting the Speaker and telling her their intention to move an adjournment motion on the issue if the government did not discuss the issue tomorrow.
Besides Ms. Swaraj, those who met the Speaker were CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, Basudeb Acharia (CPI(M)), Lalu Prasad (RJD) and Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP).
The issue has received support from major UPA partners like Trinamool Congress and DMK, which have also sought a full-fledged debate on price rise.
The Rajya Sabha too is expected to discuss the issue tomorrow with an opposition leader saying that the House would not be allowed to run if the issue was not taken up.
Apparently bowing to opposition pressure, Government on Monday agreed to a discussion in the Lok Sabha tomorrow on rising prices, an issue that has brought almost the entire Opposition and some key UPA allies together.
A meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha presided by Speaker Meira Kumar saw the government yielding to the demand in the backdrop of the Opposition threat to move an adjournment motion tomorrow if the government failed to hold a discussion on the issue.
“We have agreed for a short duration discussion and now it is for the Speaker to take a decision,” a minister said.
Noting that the government has agreed to break the convention to take up the price rise issue, he said normally the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address is taken up first.
The government’s move has come close on the heels of top opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, meeting the Speaker and telling her their intention to move an adjournment motion on the issue if the government did not discuss the issue tomorrow.
Besides Ms. Swaraj, those who met the Speaker were CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, Basudeb Acharia (CPI(M)), Lalu Prasad (RJD) and Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP).
The issue has received support from major UPA partners like Trinamool Congress and DMK, which have also sought a full-fledged debate on price rise.
The Rajya Sabha too is expected to discuss the issue tomorrow with an opposition leader saying that the House would not be allowed to run if the issue was not taken up.
