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BJD against RS open ballot bill
New Delhi, Aug 06: BJD, an NDA ally, today joined the CPI(M), AIADMK and RJD in the Lok Sabha in opposing the bill to provide for voting by open ballot for elections to the Rajya Sabha.
New Delhi, Aug 06: BJD, an NDA ally, today joined the CPI(M), AIADMK and RJD in the Lok Sabha in opposing the bill to provide for voting by open ballot for elections to the Rajya Sabha.
Participating in a conclusive discussion on the bill, Brathahari Mehta (BJD) said that the bill was wrong as it affects regional parties and in the changed politics, it strikes at the basic structure of the constitution.
Opposing the bill, K Malaichamy (AIADMK) said that the Rajya Sabha has its own characteristic and such a legislation would lead to it losing its fundamental character.
Earlier, moving the representation of the people (amendment) bill, 2003, Minister of State for Law and Justice P C Thomas said that the legislation was being brought to check the use of money power and cross-voting.
He said that the parliamentary standing committee was unanimous in regard to aims and objects of the bill, though there were differences over the legislation itself.
Somnath Chaterjee (CPM) criticised government saying, "It was the unanimous recommendation of the standing committee that all-party consensus should be evolved before piloting the bill."
By bringing the bill in Lok Sabha, government has made a blatant attack on some basic features of the constitution, he said adding "passage of this bill will institutionalise corruption."
Supporting the legislation, P K Bansal (Cong) alleged that the proposed law would stop the play of big money in the Rajya Sabha elections. "People with big money bags find their way to the upper house, but those with impeccable record of service don't get a seat".
Bureau Report
Opposing the bill, K Malaichamy (AIADMK) said that the Rajya Sabha has its own characteristic and such a legislation would lead to it losing its fundamental character.
Earlier, moving the representation of the people (amendment) bill, 2003, Minister of State for Law and Justice P C Thomas said that the legislation was being brought to check the use of money power and cross-voting.
He said that the parliamentary standing committee was unanimous in regard to aims and objects of the bill, though there were differences over the legislation itself.
Somnath Chaterjee (CPM) criticised government saying, "It was the unanimous recommendation of the standing committee that all-party consensus should be evolved before piloting the bill."
By bringing the bill in Lok Sabha, government has made a blatant attack on some basic features of the constitution, he said adding "passage of this bill will institutionalise corruption."
Supporting the legislation, P K Bansal (Cong) alleged that the proposed law would stop the play of big money in the Rajya Sabha elections. "People with big money bags find their way to the upper house, but those with impeccable record of service don't get a seat".
Bureau Report