Speaker defends passage of bill to amend IT Act

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today defended the passage of the bill to amend the IT Act without discussion amid protests by opposition members, saying there was urgency to pass it.
She maintained that a discussion should have taken place as it was a very important bill and said opposition members, who did not participate and continued to protest, could have raised all the issues they wanted.
"It would be very good if a discussion had happened. It was a very important bill. Everybody will agree that a discussion is necessary. All the issues could have been raised which they (opposition) wanted during it. I requested for it again and again. Without discussion, bill should not have been taken up but urgency is also there," the Speaker told reporters.

Asked if the continuing impasse in the Lok Sabha will break in the coming days, she said everybody is trying for it.
"Impasse should break. Parliament is for debate," she said.
Amid a din, the bill which seeks to tax money deposited in banks post demonetisation was passed in the House within minutes without any debate.