Close on the heels of the I K Gujral government facing embarrassment on the IRA bill on Wednesday, the government faced yet another setback yesterday when the bill seeking to eliminate non-serious candidates from the presidential and vice-presidential elections fell through in the Rajya Sabha even before the consideration stage.
Amidst high drama lasting over four hours, the resolution by the opposition BJP disapproving the presidential ordinance, which preceded the bill, was carried by a voice vote. The BJP clearly exploited the absence of Congress members in the house to further embarrass the government.
The BJPs ire against the government was on the ground that it was not consulted on the selection of candidates for vice-presidential elections and that its help was sought only during times of crisis.
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The ordinance was issued before the presidential election in June, and as stipulated, has to be replaced by a bill in the next session of parliament.
The government was put in the dock when the BJP rejected emotional appeals from Prime Minister I K Gujral and deputy chairperson Najma Heptulla to withdraw the resolution moved by BJP member Satish Agarwal. Refusing to withdraw his resolution, Agarwal quoted law books to say that non-passage of the bill is not going to alter the position of the forthcoming vice-presidential elections and the just-concluded presidential polls. Earlier in the day, the BJP also forced the deferment of a bill on security agencies.
With most Congress MPs away in Calcutta for the partys plenary session, the BJP boldly pressed for a voice vote. Heptulla tried in vain to find a way out to rescue the government by suggesting that the House could be adjourned briefly for discussions among the parties in her chamber. Agarwal and T N Chaturvedi said the BJP found it difficult to accept her suggestion under the present circumstances and pressed for voting on the resolution.
I avail of this opportunity to censure the government and I am not prepared to withdraw it, Agarwal said while taking strong objection to government resorting to frequent promulgation of ordinances. A pleading Gujral said he was himself a votary of promulgation of a minimum number of ordinances but cannot give a guarantee that the government would will not resort to ordinances in order to secure BJPs support to withdraw the resolution. He indicated that if the resolution were carried, the government might have to bring the bill on the subject again.
Judges leave bill introduced in Lok Sabha.