ADMK,CPI raise Lanka issue,force DMK walkout

With the entire Opposition missing from the House,UPA members and ministers urged the AIAMDK and CPI members not to press for division. AIADMK’s V Maitreyan,however,stood his ground and argued that “even if we get one vote it does not matter” as it was not a question of majority,but a question of sentiments and emotions. He said that the division will make clear who stands for cause of the Tamils. The idea clearly was to embarrass the DMK.

Raja,too,pressed for a division saying the reply given by the Prime Minister was not assuring and convincing as there were many “ifs” and “buts”. He said India should have taken the lead and moved a resolution at the UNHRC.

DMK’s Tiruchi Shiva intervened to argue that the assurance given by the PM that New Delhi was inclined to vote on a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council was of “paramount importance”.

He tried his best to avert a division pointing out that the voice vote has decided in favour of the PM and claiming that an attempt is being made to play politics.

With Deputy Chairman calling for division,as sought by AIADMK members and Raja,DMK members,including Shiva and Kanimozhi,silently walked out of the House.

The government had an easy victory in the division with only nine votes in favour of the amendment and 84 against it.

BJP to penalise missing MPs

As a step aimed at penalising party MPs who fail to heed whips issued by its parliamentary leadership,the BJP had decided to deny them an opportunity to speak in important debates.

The decision was taken at Tuesday’s party meeting after finding that 23 MPs had failed to attend the voting in the Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks to the President’s address where the party had moved a number of amendments. The large number of MPs failing to be present was despite a three-line whip issued by parliamentary party.

“We have issued showcause notices to all the 23 members. Members should take whips seriously and they should realise that their membership can be cancelled if the party leadership decides to make such a recommendation to the chair,” party chief whip Ramesh Bais said,adding that a decision was taken to penalise truant MPs by denying them an opportunity to speak in important debates.

In the Rajya Sabha,where the amendments to the motion of thanks to the President’s address was put to vote on Tuesday,the BJP fared better with four absentees. However,BJP parliamentary party secretary K B Shanappa said that the four,including chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad,had taken prior permission from the leadership. “They had to go to their respective states to complete process of RS nomination,” he said.