New Delhi: A united opposition on Rajya Sabha blocked on Thursday the much sought after a bill by the Central Government that proposes to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to enable the overseas electors to appoint proxies to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies elections.
To their surprise, most of the opposition parties on Thursday morning found that a bill Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was listed in the business list. In the Business Advisory committee meeting held in the chamber of Rajya Sabha chairman, Venkaiah Naidu, most of the leaders opposed the way, treasury benches listed the bill without their consultation.
The Chairman of the RS asked the Government to discuss with the opposition on the bill and find a consensus. The opposition parties also decided to oppose the Triple Talaq Bill as passed by the Lok Sabha if it comes to Rajya Sabha. PM Narendra Modi in his most of the visit to foreign countries assured the NRI community that they will be given voting rights for the LS and assembly polls of the country. The Government was very keen to bring the bill before the coming LS poll.
Earlier, Union Parliamentary affairs minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Vijay Goel had requested the leaders to meet at the Chamber of the Leader of Rajya Sabha, Finance minister Arun Jaitley, however, all opposition leaders including Congress and TMC refused to attend the meeting. Later, TMC leader Derek O'Brien and other leaders met in the chamber of the Leaders of Opposition Gulam Nabi Azad and decided to oppose the bill and demanded that the bill be sent to select committee.
All the leaders agreed to meet again to decide the future course of action on Friday.
The bill was passed in Lok Sabha in the last monsoon session of the Parliament. Central Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad gave an argument that it would be a "momentous event" and a big opportunity was being given to non-resident Indians (NRIs).
He said the constitution makers had given the right to vote to all Indians and as such the NRIs also had the right. "Let us not deride the contribution of NRIs. They have made a place for themselves by their hard work. Their commitment to India is truly remarkable," he said.
Responding to the apprehension of some members that the proxy provision can be misused, he said rules will be made in such a way that if the law is flouted, it will lead to cancellation of the mandate.
Meanwhile, opposition parties also forced the Government on Thursday for sending two other bills to select committee of the Rajya Sabha. Those are bills for prevention trafficking women and children and Transgender bill on the ground that adequate attention was not given to redress the grievances.