Citing ‘lack of decorum’, Dhankhar walks out of BAC meet after standoff

While opposition leaders said the issue came up at the BAC as did a demand for discussion on Manipur, Rajya Sabha sources said there was no mention of the EPIC issue at the meeting. They said the differences were over sending Bills to Parliamentary Standing Committees for scrutiny. But sources on both sides said there was a sharp exchange of views, resulting in Dhankar walking out citing “lack of decorum.”

The Budget Session of Parliament ends next week.

The Government side sought time for discussion on two Bills — The Immigration and Foreigners Bill and The Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill — passed by Lok Sabha this week. The Government plans to take up the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill next week. Sources said the Government and Opposition sides did not budge from their positions, prompting the Chairman, who chairs the meetings, to leave midway.

The Opposition’s argument was that their notices seeking discussion on various issues are routinely rejected by the Chair. They said the Opposition had been cooperating with the Government for passage of Bills but no heed is being paid to their requests and demands for discussion on issues which they believe are important.

Sources in some of the Opposition parties said the House might see protests next week if a short duration discussion on issues related to elections are not taken up for discussion.

An Opposition leader said they have conveyed to the Chairman that they are flexible on the rules under which discussion on EPIC can be held, as well as the wording of the notice, but the discussion should be taken up. The Trinamool Congress, which has been raising the issue in the House with multiple MPs giving notices almost every day, has warned of protests if the debate is not taken up in Parliament.