The Rajya Sabha passed three Bills on the last day of the Winter Session on Wednesday without discussion amid a walkout by the left parties which protested against this practice. The protestors alleged that “A and B teams,” in apparent reference to main Opposition Congress and ruling BJP, had reached an “understanding” to pass the Bills without a debate. The lok Sabha has already passed these Bills.
While agreeing with the left leaders, including Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) and D Raja (CPI) on the issue, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said the Bills had to be passed without discussion due to paucity of time as the House could not function earlier. He, however, said such a practice cannot become a precedent.
The Bills passed within a few minutes despite protest, included Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill, 2015, the Arbitration and Conciliation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
Raising concern over the passage of Commercial Courts Bill without discussion, Raja said these Bills had serious implications on the economy and will increase the gap between the haves and have nots. He said it was not a good precedent to pass the Bill in this manner.
KN Balagopal (CPI-M) said the Congress and the BJP were acting as “A-Team and B-Team” and not allowing the House to discuss the Bills. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) agreed with Raja and cited rule 124 of the Rajya Sabha stipulating a debate before passage and urged the House that it should not become a precedent.
Backing his party colleague, Sitaram Yechury said it is “not fair” if both the Congress and the BJP have come to such an “understanding. If you are going to do this, even our presence is not required,” the CPM leader said and led the walkout.
Opposition members also joined ranks to oppose the taking up of the Sugar Cess (Amendment Bill) 2015, that seeks to raise the sugar cess ceiling from Rs25 to Rs200 per quintal. The lok Sabha has already passed it.
Members from Congress, AIADMK, DMK, left and JD(U) opposed taking up the Bill even after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tried to convince them. He said the Bill will automatically become a law after 14 days even if not returned by the Rajya Sabha to the lok Sabha as the Speaker has declared it a money Bill.
He also said the money earned from the cess will go to the Consolidated Fund of the Government.
Rejecting the Opposition claim that cess favoured industry, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the Bill will ensure an amount of Rs3,000 crore for the benefit of farmers and affect the common man. With the Opposition not relenting, Kurien said since there was no consensus, he was not taking up the Bill.