Amid opposition outcry against contentious bill, INDIA bloc partners TMC, SP, AAP & Shiv Sena (UBT) have already announced decision to not join the committee.
While Justice JS Khehar was forthright that bill may fall short of legality and constitutionality in other aspects, Justice DY Chandrachud was guarded, says an oppn MP.
An Opposition MP, it is learnt, said that if more amendments were needed to ensure Centre's proposal clears judicial scrutiny, the 2 ONOE bills 'were clearly not desirable'.
Bill expected to be tabled in Parliament in second half of budget session. Cabinet incorporated most of the changes suggested by the JPC headed by BJP leader Jagdambika Pal.
A look at report tabled in RS & corrigendum issued later show redacted portions either raise questions on JPC chairperson's conduct or criticise BJP 'agenda' behind introducing bill.
Law ministry gives presentation running into thousands of pages; BJP MP says Kovind panel consulted over 25,000 citizens, with 'overwhelming majority' in favour.
Spat between TMC's Kalyan Banerjee & BJP's Abhijit Gangopadhyay at Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting not first such instance. Oppn MPs say JPCs are also being undermined.
At meeting on proposed changes to 1995 Waqf Act, Islamic outfits raised objections & called for scrapping of Bill. Oppn MPs said govt mustn’t interfere in religious matters.
NCP chief sparked controversy last week when he spoke in support of Adani Group, saying there was no need for JPC probe into allegations when SC had appointed its own committee.
Union minister Piyush Goyal accuses Congress of humiliating Rajya Sabha chairman even as Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury attends another meeting on the matter convened by Lok Sabha Speaker.
DMK govt accuses Centre of withholding funds, tightening borrowing, unilateral deductions from state accounts. Says Centre's accounting & funding decisions have 'artificially inflated' debt burden.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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