BJD plans walk-out during Jharkhand Bill debate in LS

AUGUST 1: The Biju Janata Dal, a constituent of the ruling National Democratic Alliance, has decided to stage a walk-out from the Lok Sabh...

AUGUST 1: The Biju Janata Dal, a constituent of the ruling National Democratic Alliance, has decided to stage a walk-out from the Lok Sabha tomorrow if its demand for the incorporation of the Saraikela and Kharsuan districts of Bihar into Orissa are not accepted when the Bihar State Reorganisation Bill, 2000 is taken up for consideration.

The decision, taken by the BJD Parliamentary Party this evening with the blessings of Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is likely to come as a major embarrassment for the Vajpayee Government. Even though the ruling coalition is confident that the Bill — which seeks to create a separate state of Jharkhand from 16 districts in south Bihar including Saraikela and Kharsuan — will be passed without any major hiccup, the BJD’s decision is likely to add to the perception that the NDA is a rickety coalition which speaks in different voices.

It is learnt that both Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister L.K. Advani spoke to Patnaik yesterday, the latter remained non-committal on his party’s support to the Bill.

However, to ensure that the move is not considered an open rebellion, the party has decided to play safe by not pressing for the division when the Bill is taken up for voting. “It does not really matter whether we press for division or not. We are just 10 in number and the Government has the assured support of many Opposition parties, including the Congress, BSP and the NCP,” remarked BJD secretary general Prasanna Acharya.

In a tactical move, the party has also decided to ask its two ministers — Arjun Charan Sethi and Braja Kishore Tripathy — to stay away from the House when the Bill is taken up for voting. “Being a part of the Government, they cannot be seen as going against it,” a BJD MP observed.

The party has moved six amendments which fall in two categories. While the first seeks that The Bill be moved either to a select committee or a joint parliamentary committee, the second demands a clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill which would mean that the issue regarding the future of the two districts will have to be put to vote.

“We have served notices for the amendments. If they are found in order, we will take part in the proceedings. We’ll put forth our point of view before staging a walkout,” party MP Trilochan Kanungo told correspondents after the meeting.

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Interestingly, the party has not decided to issue any whip to its members. “It does not make any difference to us. All the 10 MPs have been verbally asked to stay in the House tomorrow,” Kanungo said.