by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
BJP breaks Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha,
Gains Majority to get RTI amendment bill passed
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, July 25
The BJP has done it in Rajya Sabha what was unthinkable until the other day. The BJP and the NDA have the support of 102 members in a House of 240 members and the Opposition had 138 MPs on its side. But it created history when it secured the support of 117 votes and the contentious Right to Information (Amendment) Bill was passed.
Interestingly, the Congress and some of the Opposition parties walked out of the house realising that they would lose the vote. However, they took the plea that some of the ruling party members were trying to influence members when the voting was going on.
The support of 117 showed that the government is now comfortable in the Rajya Sabha too.
Though the Congress successfully mustered the support of TMC, NCP, SP, BSP, Left parties and others. But the BJP succeeded in persuading non-allies like the AIADMK, YSR Congress and even the TRS to support the Bill. Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh conceded defeat while making his intervention during the debate saying, “I am aware that telephone calls were made to the state Capitals to muster a majority”. The YSR Congress has two MPs. It si learnt that the two MPs of the PDP and lone MP of the JD-S preferred to remain absent at the time of voting. Surprisingly, even two member TDP also was soft when its leader spoke in the Rajya Sabha.
The Janata Dal (U) which had categoricallystated its opposition to the Triple Talaq Bill, decided to vote in favour of the amendment.
Another ineresting fact also emerged that except for the BJP and its allies parties, no other Opposition party except the Congress issued a whip to its members to attend the House when voting takes place. It is largely because of this very reason that fewer number of members were present in the house when the voting took place.
The TRS wanted an assurance from the government that it would maintain the independence of the Information Commission which was galdly given by Minister of State in the PMO Dr Jitendra Singh.
Ends
