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Congress, BJP issue whip on Lokpal
A day after Parliament debated Lokpal Bill, the Congress and the BJP reportedly issued whips making it compulsory for party MPs to be present and vote as per the party`s stand on the issue of Lokpal.
Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: A day after Parliament debated Lokpal Bill, the Congress and the Bhartiya Janata Party reportedly issued whips making it compulsory for party MPs to be present and vote as per the party’s stand on the issue of Lokpal.
As per reports, both parties have issued ‘three-line’ whips – issued to ensure discipline - asking their MPs to be present in Parliament and to vote as per the party’s stand on the Lokpal. There are three types of whips. While a one-line whip informs party MPs about the voting time but voting is not compulsory, a double-line whip makes voting compulsory. The three-line whip mandates that all party MPs be present for voting and they have to vote as per the party’s view on the issue.
The Janata Dal (U) is also said to be mulling issuing a whip to its MPs.
As per reports many MPs cutting across party lines are against the Lokpal Bill and have been advocating that parties should not issue. “If parties don’t issue whip then the truth will come out,” many MPs said in private. The demand found voice through Lalu Prasad Yadav who, during the debate had demanded that each MP should be allowed to take a personal stand on the issue. Pranab Mukherjee had responded from the government’s side during the debate. He said, “543 members (of Lok Sabha) will decide the fate of Lokpal. All of you will decide…please don’t blame the government for which it is not responsible.”
New Delhi: A day after Parliament debated Lokpal Bill, the Congress and the Bhartiya Janata Party reportedly issued whips making it compulsory for party MPs to be present and vote as per the party’s stand on the issue of Lokpal.
As per reports, both parties have issued ‘three-line’ whips – issued to ensure discipline - asking their MPs to be present in Parliament and to vote as per the party’s stand on the Lokpal. There are three types of whips. While a one-line whip informs party MPs about the voting time but voting is not compulsory, a double-line whip makes voting compulsory. The three-line whip mandates that all party MPs be present for voting and they have to vote as per the party’s view on the issue.
The Janata Dal (U) is also said to be mulling issuing a whip to its MPs.
As per reports many MPs cutting across party lines are against the Lokpal Bill and have been advocating that parties should not issue. “If parties don’t issue whip then the truth will come out,” many MPs said in private. The demand found voice through Lalu Prasad Yadav who, during the debate had demanded that each MP should be allowed to take a personal stand on the issue. Pranab Mukherjee had responded from the government’s side during the debate. He said, “543 members (of Lok Sabha) will decide the fate of Lokpal. All of you will decide…please don’t blame the government for which it is not responsible.”