BJP boycotts passage of AIIMS Bill in RS

New Delhi, Nov 29 (UNI) Taking strong exception to the bypassing of the rules and ''procedures and conventions'' in the Rajya Sabha, the BJP today stayed away from the proceedings to protest against the manner in which the government had pushed through the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bill in Parliament.

BJP Deputy Leader and former Health Minister Sushma Swaraj said the party had submitted its protest in writing to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, giving a detailed account of its side of the story and the ''haste'' with which the government had bulldozed the Opposition just to pass a Bill intended ''against one individual'' -- the AIIMS Director.

The Bill, which had to be passed amid din and pandemonium, showed how badly the whole thing was orchestrated by the UPA government.

The BJP also boycotted the Business Advisory Committee of the House to register its protest, she said, adding the Bill was passed bypassing the set conventions and was not even referred to the Commitee on Subordinate Legislation of Rajya Sabha for a thread bare discussion.

''The Bill was no ordinary Bill, but throttling with the future of the premier medical institution. If such practices are allowed to be continued, there will be no need for an Opposition in Parliamentary Democracy,'' the party Chief Whip S S Ahluwalia wrote to Mr Ansari.

UNI