Amidst high drama before Parliament was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, the controversial Constitutional Amendment bill providing for demarcation of the boundary with Bangladesh was introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The BJP has taken a strong exception to it.
Members of Trinamool Congress, led by Derek O’Brien and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MP Birendra Prasad Baishya rushed to the Well to protest the move. BJP too opposed the move and the manner in which the government tried to introduce the Bill and how the leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley was not allowed to speak on the controversial subject.
The House saw repeated adjournments as members created a ruckus after Deputy Chairman P J Kurien tried to take leave of the House for the introduction of the bill. After a discussion on WTO ended, Kurien attempted to take leave of the House to introduce the bill which was mentioned in the supplementary business list.
The protesting members reached the area where External Affairs Minister (MEA) Salman Khurshid was present and Baishya was seen with a placard claiming that the AGP would not compromise. He apparently tried to snatch the bill. The proposed legislation could not be passed during the last session due to strong opposition to it.
Amidst the chaos, Kurien adjourned the House for 10 minutes. When the House reassembled, the din continued however the bill was introduced, triggering more shouting by agitated members. The House was again adjourned, this time for 30 minutes. With members continuing to express opposition over the issue, the House was adjourned sine die.
Jaitley alleged that he was not allowed to orally raise the objection in the House on account of the environment that existed at that time and the Ruling of the Deputy Chairman. In a written note, Jaitley pointed that he had written to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to oppose the introduction of Constitution Amendment Bill regarding the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh.
“My objection is based on the fact that after 1973 when the concept of basic structure of constitution was evolved in the Kesavanand Bharati Case, the Parliament has no jurisdiction to alter the territory of India. The territory represents the sovereignty and are both a part of the basic structure of Constitution and thus unamendable,” Jaitley said mentioning about his communication in this regard to MEA Salman Khurshid.
Jaitley further said the MEA’s reply relies on certain judgments of the Supreme Court but none of the judgments however deals with the issue that territory is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution and hence unalterable. The agreement is aimed at settling the issue of enclaves and adverse possession along the 4,069-km border between India and Bangladesh and is seen as an important confidence building measure between the two neighbours. The agreement provides for exchange of about 160 enclaves between the two countries
The Trinamool Congress questioned the “last-minute” introduction of the Constitution Amendment Bill. In a tweet, Derek O’ Brien also criticised the Congress and the CPI-M for remaining silent on the issue in the Rajya Sabha while the entire House protested.