Govt embarrased in RS; move to withdraw 3 bills scuttled

Government today faced embarrassment in the Rajya Sabha when opposition scuttled its move to withdraw three bills, including one on raising the FDI cap in insurance sector to 49 per cent, which are expected to be introduced in Lok Sabha for replacement of Ordinances.

Congress, Trinamool Congress, Left, Samajwadi Party and BSP got together, questioning the intent of the government and insisting on a debate on the motion for withdrawal.
Besides the Insurance Laws (Adendment) Bill, 2014, the other two proposed legislations are the Coal Mines (Special Provision) Bill, 2014 and The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2014.

"It will be difficult to support the motion to withdraw the legislations without a discussion," said Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad. He was supported by Sitaram Yechury (CPI) and Derek O'Brien (TMC).

Yechury questioned the intention of the government when it had already brought Ordinance to replace the Bills.

"If the Bills were to be withdrawn, then why did you bring an Ordinance. The withdrawal is against the propriety of the House," he said with members from Congress, SP, BSP and TMC supporting him.

Finance Minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley referred to the rules of business, stating that the withdrawal had become necessary as in all the three Bills, Ordinances had been proclaimed and the Bill substituting the Ordinances had to be introduced.

"The earlier law has become infructuous but I believe there is an element of attachment to an infructuous legislation," he said apparently taking a dig at the Oppposition for its stand.

However, as the opposition remained firm, Jaitley sensed the mood of the House and suggested deferring the motion to withdraw the legislations.

The government wants to withdraw these bills from the Upper House, introduced in the last session, possibly for introducing in the Lok Sabha to replace the Ordinances.