New Delhi: A day after the government faced embarrassment in the Rajya Sabha after it failed to ensure passage of a bill to confer constitutional status on the Backward Classes Commission, BJP chief Amit Shah today pulled up BJP MPs for frequent absence from Parliament sessions.
The "absence" of MPs figured in the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting wherein Mr Shah sounded his "displeasure and disappointment" over the episode. "The BJP chief asked party MPs to ensure their attendance in Parliament in both the Houses....Things cannot be taken casually," a party leader said after the parliamentary party meeting.
In the absence of BJP MPs in the Upper House yesterday, the government had to drop a crucial clause from the bill granting constitutional status to the National Commission on Backward Classes (NCBC). The amendments pushed by Congress member Digvijaya Singh and others had the support of 74 Opposition MPs and were passed.
A party leader said at the parliamentary party meeting, Mr Shah said, “If you have been elected, you should do justice". Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in north east to review the flood situation, did not attend today's meeting. However, sources said Prime Minister too has been "upset” about the episode. The frequent absence of BJP MPs from the proceedings of the House came despite repeated warnings by Prime Minister Modi in the past.
The party chief also directed the errant MPs not to repeat such mistakes. While Parliamentary affairs Minister Ananth Kumar indicated that the BJP leadership is likely to seek explanation from the absentee Rajya Sabha MPs. The NDA was left embarrassed even as the NDA commands support of 78 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, excluding JD(U)'s 10 members.
This is not first time that there has been a major lapse in floor management in the Rajya Sabha. The passing of a Private Member Bill on Transgender rights in Rajya Sabha on April 24, 2015 was another such major embarrassment for the NDA Government. At the Parliamentary party meeting it was also decided that BJP will launch a 'Sankalp Yatra' from August 15 to August 30. (UNI)