New Delhi: In a embarrassment to the
government, Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha today forced
deferment of a bill that aimed at allowing Border Security
Force to operate at places other than border areas.
Alleging "encroachment" upon federal rights of states,
Opposition parties including those from NDA and Left, AIADMK
and BSP and SP supporting Government from outside, said the
Border Security Force (Amendment) Bill listed for today should
be deferred till the scheduled meeting of Centre with Chief
Ministers on April 16.
Home Minister P Chidambaram`s arguments that there should
not be any doubt that the states` consent would be taken when
the central paramilitary forces are deployed there failed to
cut ice with the Opposition leaders, who remained adamant on
the bill being deferred.
As the members did not relent, Deputy Chairman K Rahman
Khan told the House that the bill is deferred.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said some
of the issues mentioned in the bill could also come up for
discussion in the CMs` meeting.
"There are several Centre and state issues involved in the
bill," he said, insisting that its consideration should be
deferred till the Centre discusses with Chief Ministers, a
contention also supported by Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M).
Demanding deferment of the bill, Yechury said though the
Home Minister had promised that no decision would be taken on
the issue of extending BSF operations to other parts of the
country unless asked by the states, he said that the bill,
however, does not say that.
PTI
