Opposition vs. Treasury: Rajya Sabha Tensions Rise
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar walked out of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on Friday after a heated standoff with opposition leaders. The opposition, led by Congress chief whip Jairam Ramesh, demanded a discussion on the EPIC (Electors Photo Identification Card) fraud issue in the House next week. They warned that failure to allow the debate would result in non-cooperation in passing Bills in the final week of the Budget Session.
With opposition parties including TMC, SP, DMK, and others uniting over the issue, tensions are set to escalate in the last week of the session.
Opposition’s Demand for EPIC Fraud Debate
Sources indicate that opposition leaders repeatedly submitted daily notices under various rules, urging discussions on:
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Duplicate EPIC voter IDs
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The Manipur crisis
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Scrutiny of pending Bills
While they showed flexibility regarding the discussion rules and notice wording, they remained firm on holding the debate. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has been vocal about the issue, has threatened protests if their demand is ignored.
Why Did Dhankhar Walk Out?
Rajya Sabha sources claim the EPIC voter ID issue was not formally discussed at the BAC meeting. However, Dhankhar walked out as both government and opposition leaders refused to compromise on the agenda.
Opposition leaders stated that they had been pushing for discussions since the second half of the Budget Session began. When Dhankhar declined to commit to allocating time for these debates, Congress, TMC, and other opposition leaders threatened to block government business next week, making it difficult to pass crucial Bills.
Opposition sources revealed that the standoff was triggered by:
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Government’s refusal to send Bills for scrutiny by parliamentary committees
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Lack of discussion on opposition-backed issues despite their prior support for government business
What Happens Next?
The final week of the Budget Session is likely to be stormy as the opposition escalates its resistance. Whether the government accommodates these demands or faces disruptions remains to be seen.
