Trinamool lawmaker said that the government used its “brute majority” in Lok Sabha to bulldoze the “faulty RTI Bill” (without any “scrutiny”).
Caravan News
NEW DELHI — The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday charged that the government was passing bills in Parliament without any “scrutiny” and said a united Opposition cannot be “steamrolled”.
TMC lawmaker and national spokesperson Derek O’Brien, who has also moved a resolution in the Rajya Sabha opposing RTI Bill, said that the government used its “brute majority” in Lok Sabha to bulldoze the “faulty RTI Bill”, reports PTI.
“Three Bills listed for passing today (Wednesday) in Rajya Sabha. All with ZERO scrutiny. And the govt expects us to be what? Mute spectators! Constructive Opposition (in) Parliament,” he tweeted.
Three Bills listed for passing today in Rajya Sabha today. All with ZERO scrutiny. And the govt expects us to be what ? Mute spectators ! #ConstructiveOpposition #Parliament https://t.co/jQpLYu8MnG
— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) July 24, 2019
He had earlier on Tuesday alleged that the government was trying to bulldoze the opposition.
“Will not be surprised if government lists RTI Bill for passing in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Be assured, we will do what it takes to preserve Parliamentary democracy. 14 Bills already passed with ZERO scrutiny by Parliament committees. Constructive Opposition can’t be steamrolled,” he said.
Lok Sabha on Monday had passed the Bill amending the Right To Information Act, amid objections by the Opposition which alleged that it was an attempt to undermine the law and make the transparency panel a “toothless tiger”.
Meanwhile, the Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha has moved a resolution to send The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to a select committee, according to reports.
The resolution has been moved by Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool and signed by the Congress, the RJD, the BJD, the CPI, the CPI(M), the DMK and others.
“It is an important Bill which has far-reaching implications. We are not against it in toto but we do feel that it needs detailed scrutiny and since there is no standing committee as of now, it should be sent to a select committee for further study,” BJD’s floor leader in the Rajya Sabha Prasanna Acharya told The Hindu.
The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 are listed for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019, seeks to give the government powers to fix salaries, tenures and other terms and conditions of employment of information commissioners.
Lok Sabha on Monday had passed the Bill amending the Right To Information Act, amid objections by the Opposition which alleged that it was an attempt to undermine the law and make the transparency panel a “toothless tiger”.
(With inputs from PTI)
