Oppn in RS objects to IT Bill being treated as Money Bill

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday saw the Opposition protesting against treating of the Income Tax Amendment Bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, as a Money Bill, saying it amounted to "undermining" the House of Elders which will have to pass it in any case.

While raising this point, Congress members Jairam Ramesh and P Chidambaram engaged in an argument with Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, who insisted that there should be no allegations.

The issue of Taxation Laws (2nd Amendment) Bill, 2016 being treated as Money Bill was raised by Naresh Agrawal of Samajwadi Party who said the government was "undermining" the Rajya Sabha as it does not have majority in this House. Kurien said it had not been done by the government but the decision was taken by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha under Article 110 of the Constitution. 

Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu then said the Upper House can discuss the bill and members can also move amendments. He said such a thing had not been done for the first time but had been practised since the days of G V Mavlankar, Speaker of the first Lok Sabha.