New Delhi, March 10
The suspension of seven Rajya Sabha MPs to facilitate the passage of Women’s Reservation Bill yesterday has now become a major bone of contention between the government and the Yadav triumvirate, who are opposing the
Bill. While RJD and SP MPs staged a walkout and boycotted the Rajya Sabha proceedings for the rest of the day, their leaders in Lok Sabha, Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Lalu Prasad (RJD) and Sharad Yadav (JD-U) stalled the House, raising slogans against the government and forcing repeated adjournments.
The trio was seen speaking to Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj alleging that the government was now planning to rope in the CRPF to physically remove them from Lok Sabha.
The government, though realising that the act has hurt the members, appeared adamant on seeking apology from the seven Rajya Sabha MPs --- Subhash Yadav (RJD), Kamal Akhtar, Aamir Ali Khan and Nand Kishore Yadav (SP) Sabir Ali (LJP) and Ejaz Ali (JD-U) for obstructing Chairman Hamid Ansari from running the House proceedings.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal insisted on apology a precondition for moving the resolution for suspension revocation. But the suspended members have ruled this out. Kamal Akhtar told the media outside Parliament House, “We will never apologise. We are willing to forego our membership rather than tender an apology.”
On the other hand, the BJP and the Left, are keen to bury the hatchet When SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav raised the issue in Rajya Sabha as soon as the Question Hour began, he was supported by RJD leader Prem Chand Gupta and CPM’s Sitaram Yechury. But the treasury benches insisted on apology first.
Outside the House too, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said: “The Women’s Reservation Bill is a very important piece of legislation. It should be passed in a more persuasive manner and not exactly the way it was done”.
Dasgupta joined Yechury to demand revocation of suspension. “These members were suspended after a resolution was moved by the government. Now, the government should move a resolution withdrawing the suspension which can be adopted by the House,” Yechury said.
Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitely went a step further. He pointed out that the government was in a minority in Rajya Sabha. The Left and the BJP could move the resolution, putting the government in a spot, he added.
