Govt faces embarrassment in RS; oppn's amendment crticising it adopted

Government on Tuesday faced an embarrassment in the Rajya Sabha when an amendment moved by the opposition to the President's Address over corruption and black money was passed.

The amendment was moved by Communist Party of India-Marxist members Sitaram Yechury and P Rajeeve and it was passed through Division of Votes after the government's plea for withdrawal of the step failed.

“There is no mention in the address about the failure of the government to curb high level corruption and to bring back black money,” read the amendment.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu tried to dissuade “senior member” Yechury from moving the amendment, saying there was a mention about black money.

He said his concern has been noted and hence should withdraw the amendment.

Yechury said normally he would accept such a request, but he was pressing for the amendment as the government left no choice as even after 14 hours of debate, opposition was denied opportunity to seek clarification on the Prime Minister's reply.

He also took objection to the Prime Minister leaving the House soon after his hour-long reply.

This is the fourth time in Rajya Sabha's history that an amendment moved by the opposition to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address has been passed.

The previous times such a thing happened was on January 30, 1980, during Janata Party rule, then on December 29, 1989, during V P Singh-led National Front and third time on March 12, 2001 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government was in power.

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI