IT Bill as Money Bill irks Opposition in RS

The Opposition in the Rajya Sabha questioned the Finance Ministry’s decision to make the new Taxation Laws (2nd Amendment) Bill, 2016 a money bill.

The Opposition parties also propose to meet President Pranab Mukherjee to raise their concern that the Rajya Sabha is being undermined by making a number of legislations as money bills.

The Lok Sabha has passed taxation bill that allows several changes in the Income Tax provisions. Though the Rajya Sabha can discuss the Bill, it cannot make any amendments to it since it is a money bill.

The matter was raised by SP leader Naresh Agarwal in the Rajya Sabha, who demanded constitution of an all-party panel to probe whether the Centre is undermining the Rajya Sabha. Deputy Chairman of the House PJ Kurien asked Agarwal to raise the matter when the Bill comes up for discussion in Rajya Sabha.

Agarwal’s demand was supported by members in the Opposition benches. They argued that since the Bill has been circulated to the members, the Chair will have to give a ruling on the matter.

“The question from the BJP members is that whether we need to continue with the system of Rajya Sabha. We need a direction from the Chair on the way this government comes up with money bills,” Agarwal said.

In the Lok Sabha too, the manner by which the Bill was passed amid ruckus was criticised by the Opposition.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters outside Parliament that the Centre is not ready to follow a democratic method of passing bills.

“Since they have majority in the House they want to bulldoze every Bill. In 10 minutes they passed such an important Bill. This is undeclared emergency and they are headed towards dictatorship,” he added.

CPIM) MP Mohammed Salim termed the passage was a black episode in the history of Parliament. “It is a black day in the history of Lok Sabha,” he added.