BJP saves govt the blushes,backs tabling of pension Bill

The ruling alliance was clearly outnumbered. But the BJP voted for the Bill’s introduction and the Government sailed through 115-43. One member abstained.

Tension writ large on his face,Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived only after the voting. He looked relieved only after an update from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal. A visibly emotional Mukherjee exchanged broad smiles with senior BJP leader L K Advani and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj. Then he scribbled something on a piece of paper and sent it across to Swaraj.

The Bill,originally proposed in 2005,got stuck after the Left blocked it during UPA 1.

Today,Acharia registered his opposition to its introduction and told the Speaker: “We are opposing introduction of the Bill and I am asking for a division instead of voice vote.” The Speaker ruled: “Now,voting has to be by division. Let the lobbies be cleared.”

Bansal,aware that the UPA numbers didn’t add up,quickly browsed through the rule book and argued that Acharia had not stated “on what ground he is opposing (the Bill).” And that Acharia should,therefore,speak first and “then,we will argue.” Clearly,Bansal was buying time so that he could mobilise more ruling party MPs.

Congress member Manish Tewari pointed out that to oppose a Bill’s introduction,Acharia had to give a notice by 10 am on the day the Bill is listed.

The Speaker heard them out but,having already set in motion the process for voting,finally ruled for division. A commotion followed and worried Congress ministers,including R P N Singh and Sachin Pilot,moved to the seats alloted to them.

In the meanwhile,Bansal rushed to the other side,had a word with Advani and Swaraj. Swaraj could be seen giving instructions to BJP chief whip Ramesh Bais. Several members trooped in. His deputy V Naranyansamy in tow,Bansal moved over to Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and then returned to his seat.

Acharia was also seen pleading with Advani for support. The voting got underway. The faces of Congress members lit up once the monitor showed the final tally.

Sources in the Congress were hard put to explain why Congress benches were empty. They claimed that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mukherjee could not come in because the lobbies had been cleared.

The CPM was quick to attack both the Congress and BJP. Party leader Sitaram Yechury said: “On the issue of economic reforms,the Congress and the BJP are on the same side…The BJP,as the principal opposition party,was expected to at least embarrass the Government….(but) they bailed out the government.”

The BJP-Congress warmth spread. Bansal deferred the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research Bill citing reservations expressed by BJP’s Murli Manohar Joshi. Describing Joshi as “my illustrious predecessor,” he said: “I credit him with immense knowledge on the subject though we are sure of what we have said…Since he has made some points,I think I should discuss those with him…and then see what we can really do about it.”