Amid ruckus, RS passes NDPS (Amendment) Bill

The SP MP’s outburst came on a day her daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the investigation in the Panama Papers expose.

Opposition members who were allotted time to speak on the Bill used the opportunity to attack the government’s handling of the suspension of Opposition members, and also demanded the sacking of MoS Home Ajay Mishra.

Bachchan accused the government of stifling the voice of the Opposition. In response, BJP MP Rakesh Sinha accused her of casting aspersions on the chair, which was being presided over by Bhubaneswar Kalita.

While Kalita insisted members speak only on the subject matter of the Bill, Opposition MPs stressed that raising the perils of “satta ka nasha [obsession for power]” and “kursi ka nasha [obsession for post]” should not be considered a deviation from the topic of discussion.

Meanwhile, the five Opposition parties whose MPs have been suspended skipped a meeting called by the government to resolve the stalemate. The Opposition also stayed away from the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee in the evening.

Sources said the House is expected to witness stormy scenes on Tuesday, with the government planning to introduce the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha.

— With inputs from Manoj CG