BJP president Amit Shah has termed as "unacceptable" the absence of party MPs from the Rajya Sabha on Monday despite a whip leading to a loss of face for the NDA Government as the Opposition forced an amendment in the Bill to accord constitutional status to the reconstituted National Commission for Backward Classes. Shah warned the party MPs against repeating their absentee act.
Describing the Congress action in the Rajya Sabha "a conspiracy" against backward classes, Shah wondered why the Opposition party forced an amendment when a Select Committee, headed by BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav, had vetted and approved it with "consensus".
In the Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday, Shah asked the party MPs to "expose" the Congress for its "anti-Backward class bias".
The amendment related to the Commission's composition sought to increase the number of members from three to five, including a woman and a minority candidate of OBC category and was carried with 75 MPs supporting and 52 rejecting it. The BJP's strength alone is 56 while the ruling block enjoys the support of 88 members, counting the 10 MPs of JD(U) which has now switched sides to the NDA camp.
"When the party issues a whip, members must be present in the House. The party president has taken a serious view of the absence of members. He said it should not have happened and must not be repeated," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said.
The BJP president asked if the absentee MPs should be named as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had himself repeatedly stressed on the need for their presence in Parliament. last week, Modi had expressed his displeasure over many party MPs casting invalid votes during the Presidential poll even though a live presentation was given to them as how not to be incorrect while exercising their franchise.
Shah said it was the duty and responsibility of MPs to be present in the house and sought them to attend the houses till the end of the monsoon session. He also asked them to take out 'Tiranga' and "Sankalp Yatra' from August 15-30 to put India on the highest pedestal in the world.
BJP General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav and Rajya Sabha and lok Sabha MPs Hukum Dev Narayan Yadav and Hukum Singh in a joint-statement said that OBC commission was modeled in line with SC/ST Commission and its provisions should be in tune with the latter. They said it was not acceptable to the Congress as it doesn't' want to do justice to the OBCs. They said by bringing in an amendment, the Congress wanted the Bill to remain pending and alleged that for last 70 years the Congress did nothing despite several commissions recommending it.
The BJP MPs said for the Congress, the minorities were more important than the OBCs as the amendment forced by it reflected.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also accused the Congress of not allowing the passage of the Bill and asked if the party was against empowerment of the OBCs.