Opposition leaves govt red-faced once again in RS

COMPELLED Second year in a row that the ruling party had to adopt an opposition amendment to President’s address

The government had to face a major embarrassment in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday when a combative opposition forced an amendment to the motion of thanks to the President’s address, once again exposing the BJP’s vulnerability in the Upper House where many crucial bills are pending.

The amendment moved by Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, with reference to setting education qualifications as eligibility for contesting panchayat elections in BJP-ruled Haryana and Rajasthan, without naming the states, was adopted by 94-61 votes.

This was the second year in a row that the government had to face discomfiture and adopt an opposition amendment to the President’s address in the Upper House, where it lacks a majority. In 2015, the opposition forced an amendment expressing “regret that there is no mention in the address about the failure of the government to curb high-level corruption and to bring back black money”.

But PM Narendra Modi’s appeal to the opposition to withdraw the amendments and “trust the President’s wisdom” to pass the motion unanimously and ensure dignity of the President’s office did find some takers. Trinamool Congress members in the House did not participate in the voting while BSP MPs walked out just ahead of the division. “Since our inception, we have never ever voted against the President’s speech out of political courtesy,” TMC MP Derek O’Brien told HT.

The government’s concerted efforts — from citing rules of the House that do not allow it to infringe on rights of the states to making a last-ditch attempt to reach out to other parties — came a cropper. Azad was unyielding and said the move was discriminatory and deprived marginalised sections, especially women. He also took a pot shot at the PM, pointing out that Mo di referred to his humble origins and yet did not object to the move.

On his part, Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi was quick to reach out to the opposition for standing its ground against the government in the Rajya Sabha.

“Proud that opposition came together against BJP’s attempt to exclude more than 50% of India’s electorate from the right to contest elections,” he said on Twitter.

The right to contest elections is a basic right of every citizen of India. Our founding fathers fought against the British for this right… They want to take this right away from all those who have been denied access, exploited & suppressed. RAHUL GANDHI, Congress vice-president, on Twitter