In an indication of what could be in store for the Modi Government and its reform Bills in the Rajya Sabha, an amendment to the motion thanking President Pranab Mukherjee was passed in the Upper House by the Opposition.
The ruling NDA is a minority in the Rajya Sabha. The amendment, moved by the CPI (M) member Sitaram Yechury and passed through division of votes, referred to the President not mentioning about “corruption at high level” and the Centre’s inability to bring back the black money stashed abroad in his address. A Cabinet Minister told BusinessLine that “it was completely disrespectful that the Opposition made amendments to the President’s speech. This is unprecedented.”
The Opposition supported CPI (M) leader Yechury’s demand for voting on the amendment. What irked the Opposition was the denial of the practice of asking clarifications after the Prime Minister’s reply to the debate on the motion.
Yechury said the Government did not give any option to seek a clarification from the Prime Minister after his speech and he questioned Modi’s decision to walk out of the House before completing the procedures.
When the amendment was put to vote, 118 members voted in favour and 58 against.
Earlier, the Prime Minister termed the campaigns against his Government as propaganda.
Urging the elders to respect the people’s verdicts in their respective States, Modi said the Centre has no plans to reduce compensation given to the families affected by land acquisition. Also read p11