Govt embarrassed as BSF bill deferred in RS

In a embarrassment to the government, Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha on Thursday forced deferment of a bill that aimed at allowing Border Security Force to operate at places other than border areas.

Alleging "encroachment" upon federal rights of states, Opposition parties including those from National Democratic Alliance and Left, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party supporting government from outside, said the Border Security Force (Amendment) Bill listed for Thursday should be deferred till the scheduled meeting of Centre with chief ministers on April 16.

Home Minister P Chidambaram's arguments that there should not be any doubt that the states' consent would be taken when the central paramilitary forces are deployed there failed to cut ice with the Opposition leaders, who remained adamant on the bill being deferred.

As the members did not relent, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan told the House that the bill is deferred.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said some of the issues mentioned in the bill could also come up for discussion in the CMs' meeting.

"There are several Centre and state issues involved in the bill," he said, insisting that its consideration should be deferred till the Centre discusses with chief ministers, a contention also supported by Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M).

Demanding deferment of the bill, Yechury said though the Home Minister had promised that no decision would be taken on the issue of extending BSF operations to other parts of the country unless asked by the states, he said that the bill, however, does not say that.