The Opposition on Thursday accused the Government of thrusting its legislative agenda on the House after the latter proposed to bring the controversial land Acquisition Bill and land border agreement with Bangladesh next week. As soon as MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy read out a statement in the lok Sabha regarding Government business for next week, Congress member Jyotiraditya Scindia protested, saying the land Bill and border agreement bill with Bangladesh were not discussed in the Business Advisory Committee meeting held on Wednesday.
Saugata Roy (TMC) and Tathagata Satpathy (BJD) supported Scindia saying the Government should not work in a “hush hush” way. Rudy replied the topics of the BAC have already been tabled in the House and he just read out the Government’s plan on proposed legislations. He said the Bills can be brought to the lok Sabha only after BAC allocates time.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the BAC report and Government business reports were two separate things which are being tabled in the House “week after week”. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the matter should rest there as the two reports are separate and have been tabled in the House. BAC meeting will be held next week.
During the meeting of Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday, Congress conveyed that it will oppose the land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh. Sources said the government has planned to bring the bill in Rajya Saba on May 5. While the government has got various states, including Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal, on board on the issue, its decision to keep Assam out of it has irked Congress which rules that state. BJP wants to exclude Assam due to sensitivities in the state where BJP aspires to come to power in assembly polls due early next year.