BJP fails to ensure quorum to discuss, pass its own bill

The Modi government was left red faced in the Rajya Sabha after it failed to ensure the required quorum to discuss and pass the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2017, an important legislation that covers gray areas on matters related to maritime jurisdiction by extending powers to the high courts.

The situation arose despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's instructions to the BJP members to ensure their attendance in the House. Making matters worse, it came immediately after MoS parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi insisted that if the "House does not take up legislative business it will be failing in its duty towards the people and the nation."

He was responding to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's charge that the government always keeps the important legislative business for Friday to take advantage of the poor attendance.

When it was time to initiate proceedings on the bill, Ramesh raised a red flag asking Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien to check if the required quorum is there. "How can you pass the bill when there is no quorum in the House? It is your (government's) responsibility to ensure quorum in the House," said Ramesh.