Office of Profit bill hits first roadblock in RS

New Delhi, Jul 27: The reconsideration of the Office of Profit Bill hit its first road block in the Rajya Sabha when the House got adjourned amid stiff protests by the Opposition for not giving priority to the short duration discussion on increasing terrorist violence in the light of recent Mumbai blasts.

As soon as the Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat announced taking up for consideration the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, returned by President under Article 111 of the Constitution, Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) objected objections stating that the House should go by the agenda. He said that the House should first complete the short duration discussions on terrorist violence before considering the offices of profit bill.

When the Chair objected to Mr Prasad's demand, noting that it was decided in his chambers, after consulting various parties, that the Bill will be taken up first, Mr Arun Shjourie (BJP) said the decisions taken in informal meetings had no sanctity and the Chair should take the consentsense of the House.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri maintained that the legislative business should have a priority over the short duration discussions.

Raising a Point of Order, Mr Dinesh Trivedi (Trinamool Congress), said discussion on the hundreds of lives lost should get a priority over the attempts to 'save the memberships' of few individuals. When there were objections from the treasury benches, he retorted that it was a 'shame' to discuss the Bill rather than the Mumbai blasts and terrorist violence.

When the Opposition did not relent, the Chair adjourned the House for 30 minutes.

When the House reassembled, no agreement had been reached on the issue, and the Opposition continued to demand the discussion be resumed. Thereupon, Mr Shekhawat adjourned the house till 1330 hours.

UNI