Government trying to 'bulldoze' Parliament, alleges CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury

CPI(M) on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi government of trying to "bulldoze" Parliament and taking its procedures "for granted", saying such an attitude "gives the taste of what is going to come in the future".

Attacking the government for "not following" procedures to seek extension of time for a Rajya Sabha select committee on the insurance amendment bill, senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said, "This attitude of trying to bulldoze Parliament and taking the procedures for granted is very disturbing." "You (BJP) have to work for five years. If you run the House virtually by threats and blackmail, violating laid down procedures ... this high-handedness ... gives a taste of what is going to come in the future," Yechury told reporters here.

"This is not a good sign. This is only the beginning of this government. Only six months have passed," he said. In Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, the Select Committee on amending the Insurance Act to raise foreign investment cap to 49% was given two more weeks till December 12 to submit its report, but not before Opposition parties raised questions over the procedure for seeking extension of the timeline. The Select Committee headed by BJP's Chandan Mitra was to submit the report by November 28.