Juvenile Bill clears RS but other legislations stuck

Even though the Rajya Sabha passed the Juvenile Justice Bill on Tuesday, several other legislations which the government was hoping to get through could not be taken up as Congress members continued their protests over allegations against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

After the Juvenile Justice Bill was passed, Congress members stood on their feet and began shouting slogans, even as an angry Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked them about the “commitment” regarding passing other Bills.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said there has been an agreement on passing legislation like Commercial courts, commercial division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill, Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, Whistleblowers Protection Bill, Atomic Energy Bill and etc.

As the opposition created uproar, Naqvi said these Bills were important and should be passed even without discussion.

Meanwhile, several Congress members were in the Well of the House as Kurien kept asking them about the “sacrosanct” commitment given before Chairman Hamid Ansari about taking up the six legislations. 

Parliamentary Affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu accused the opposition party of trying to stall the progress of the country and said it was unfair and unethical of going back on a commitment that had been made in the Chairman’s chamber.