New Delhi: After 36 years, a private member bill was on Friday passed by Rajya Sabha despite the government's initial resistance in the House where the ruling coalition is short of numbers.
The "Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014", moved by Tiruchi Siva (DMK), was passed by voice vote after the government came on board to avoid division of votes as several opposition parties got together.
Siva rejected all pleas from the government side to withdraw the bill. He was joined by members from Congress and some other parties.
Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tried to persuade Siva, promising that a comprehensive legislation would be brought by the government on the issue.
However, the DMK member and other opposition parties insisted that the bill be put to vote. Siva even insisted on division of votes, which determines how each member voted.
At this, Jaitley said it would not be proper if the House is divided on this issue as everyone is in favour of the rights of transgenders.
"Siva has raised a very important issue. I don't think the House should be divided on this important issue. We are all concerned about this segment of society," he said.
Jaitley, a renowned lawyer, said there are only two options available. "One option is that even if we approve this, it does not become a law, it only expresses a sentiment. It is more like a resolution."
The other option, he said, is that Siva agrees to the assurance, which Gehlot, under whose ministry the issue comes, has given, and does not press it.
"But in any case my appeal to all the sections would be that we come to a conclusion and that should be a general consensus of the House rather than being divided on an issue because this is not an issue on which the House should at all be divided," Jaitley said.
The bill was then put to vote and passed by voice vote.
The treasury benches were in full strength at that time while several opposition members were not present in the House. The Bill was passed by voice vote in the presence of 19 Union Ministers, including eight Cabinet Ministers. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also present.
