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Title : Discussion on the motion for introduction of Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, 2006. (Motion adopted and Bill introduced).
THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI): Sir, I would like to submit one point, through you, to the House.
As agreed in the usual Leaders’ Meeting in the morning today, item No. 15, that is, the introduction of the Bill may be taken up before item No. 14 and the Calling Attention may be taken up after the introduction. Then, after the disposal of the Calling Attention, we shall take up the Bill for consideration and passing about which I have conveyed to you officially through a notice.
MR. SPEAKER: It may be after mentioning some urgent matters. I think the House agrees to it.
प्रो. विजय कुमार मल्होत्रा: इंट्रोडक्शन के समय पर भी हम अपोज करेंगे।
MR. SPEAKER: That is there. That right is not taken away. I believe this is prior to that.
SHRI L.K. ADVANI (GANDHINAGAR): Sir, I feel that when the Offices of Profit Bill would be taken up, you may not be in the Chair.
MR. SPEAKER: I do not wish to be there.
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : I appreciate your decision. But I would like to plead with you on one point because, after all, you are the hon. Speaker. The manner in which this particular matter is being dealt with by the Government is not the right way. For example, waiving of notices required for Bills or the circulation of the copy of the Bill to the Members can be waived in certain circumstances. But by saying that the Bill is to be introduced today, to be passed today and is to be
* Published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section-2, dated 16.5.2006
passed by the other House today, they are trying to bulldoze it which is not necessary at all. I would like the Leader of the House to remember how this particular issue was messed up even in the beginning and how the House was adjourned sine die and, because of all that happened, we had to again convene a meeting and the House could not be prorogued.
I would like to plead with the Speaker to advise the Government and let the Government also decide on this matter. There is ample time. We are sitting till the 23rd of May. What is the hurry about it? Why is it being bulldozed? There should be a fullfledged discussion on this particular matter so that whatever has to be said can be said. Even though it was said that before the Bill would be introduced, the Opposition would be consulted, I was not consulted. My Party was not consulted. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, please do not misunderstand me. Let me leave the Chair. Hon. Deputy-Speaker would occupy the Chair
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : Mr. Speaker Sir, I am not referring to the Offices of Profit Bill at the moment.
MR. SPEAKER: I am sorry. Now, hon. Deputy-Speaker is occupying the Chair. Please do not misunderstand me.
12.09 hrs. (Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair)
… (Interruptions)
श्री इलियास आज़मी (शाहाबाद) : यह नैतिकता के बिल्कुल खिलाफ है। यह कोई नैतिकता का मामला नहीं है[r1] ।… (Interruptions)
THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE): Most respectfully, I would just like to clarify one position. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The Leader of the House is on his legs. Other hon. Members, please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE: Mr. Deputy-speaker, Sir, I am just trying to clarify one position which the hon. Leader of the Opposition raised. … (Interruptions)
I have no intention of participating in the debate. … (Interruptions) I am responding to the point which the Leader of the Opposition referred to. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing will go on record except what Shri Pranab Mukherjee says.
(Interruptions) …*
SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE: Will you not allow anyone to speak? … (Interruptions) Let me complete and then you can speak. … (Interruptions)
I would just like to clarify that nothing has been messed up which the hon. Leader of the Opposition referred to. I gave the explanation why the House was adjourned sine die in the previous part of this Session.
As far as the consultation with the leaders of the parties is concerned, I would like to say that hon. Leader of the Opposition would recollect that first my colleague, the hon. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs had a meeting with the leaders of various groups of the Parliament. After that I myself wrote letters to all the Opposition parties. I have received responses including the Leader of the Opposition of BJP in Rajya Sabha. The Leader of the Opposition of this House told me personally that whatever have been pointed out by the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Shri Jaswant Singh, are the views of the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. Therefore, it is totally surprising to me to hear that the Government has not consulted all the Opposition parties.
In regard to the procedure to be adopted, I would say that the hon. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs discussed the matter as to the manner in which the Bill will be taken up with the floor leaders well in advance. Therefore, it is not being
* Not Recorded.
bulldozed. Nobody is going to take away the rights of the hon. Members to discuss it in detail. The House can decide as to how much time it wants to discuss the Bill. You can take as much time as is needed to debate the Bill. We can give them. There is no problem regarding that. … (Interruptions)
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : Sir, a mention has been made by the Leader of the House to what I spoke to him and to what I said to him. I have said that so far as the broad approach is concerned it has already been indicated by the Leader of the Oppositing in the Rajya Sabha and I endorse it. This was my personal talk with him. But that letter itself says that we would give our considered view when the Government’s thinking comes to us in the shape of the draft Bill. That Bill was brought to the House without discussing with anyone else. You may have discussed it with your allies. But you did not discuss the Bill with us.
SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE: I am afraid, Sir, the Bill which is being discussed is nothing but the original Bill. Along with my letter a copy of the Bill, which exists, was referred to. What is being done is only the Schedule is being expanded. When you study the Bill, you will find that there is nothing more than that. Only the Schedule, which contains the offices of profit which are to be exempted, is being expanded. Only that is being added. There is no other new element in the Bill, in the text of the Bill at all. … (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : Shri Kharabela Swain, please allow me to speak.
I would like to submit very sincerely and faithfully that in the presence of all the leaders on the first day of leaders meeting; then in the normal meetings that the hon. Speaker holds in his Chamber, I made it abundantly clear, with the consensus and unanimity of all the leaders, that this Bill should be introduced, considered and passed on the same day. Nobody can deny this fact. All were present in the meeting.… (Interruptions)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY (PURI): Do not say “all”. … (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI: Shri Tripathy, if you fail to attend the meeting, that is not my fault. … (Interruptions)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : My simple objection is you have not consulted us. … (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI: Then you can give your objection.… (Interruptions)
Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, I must clarify this point. I contacted the Leader of the BJD, Shri Arjun Sethi, over the phone. He said that he was in a village and that he would let me know his party’s views within seven days. No view came from the BJD after my interaction. I personally called on all the Leaders, which was followed by the letters of the Leader of the House. Then, some Leaders wrote in their opinion and some said that they would interact later. So, in this matter, a comprehensive drill has been done by the Government with the parties.
As regards the Draft Bill, also I said in the Leaders’ Meeting that there is no Constitution Amendment but only a section will be amended to include more list to expand the Schedule. I do not know what is lacking in terms of informing the Leaders. We have done our job very transparently. … (Interruptions)
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN (BALASORE): Sir, please allow me. … (Interruptions) I have a valid point.… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Now, we will take up Legislative Business. We will take up Item No.15 – Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, 2006.
… (Interruptions)
THE MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI H.R. BHARDWAJ): Sir, I beg to move for leave to introduce a Bill further to amend the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959.… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Motion moved:
“That leave be granted to introduce a Bill further to amend the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959.”
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : Sir, I oppose the Bill.… (Interruptions)
SHRI H.R. BHARDWAJ: Now, you can oppose it! … (Interruptions)
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, ordinarily, I would not have opposed introduction of a Bill. It is not the convention… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Observe silence, Azmiji. The Bill is a very serious one. Take it seriously.
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : I rise to oppose this introduction only because of one clause, and that clause is clause 2(i). Otherwise, I would have waited for the Third Reading and that at the end of the Third Reading, as has been decided already by members of the National Democratic Alliance, we would have opposed the passing of the Bill. But, I believe, that when the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill was first passed in 1953, later in 1959, it was never conceived that this would include offices which are virtually constitutional
offices. It was never contemplated. I am reading the particular clause to which I am objecting. It says:
“after clause (ac), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-
“(ad) the office of the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council constituted by the Government of India in the Cabinet Secretariat vide Order No.631/2/1/2004-Cab., dated 31st May, 2004;””
Now, I have with me this Order, which creates the National Advisory Council to monitor the implementation of the National Common Minimum Programme of the Government. It mentions the functions of the National Advisory Council, and the first and foremost function is:
“to monitor the progress of the implementation of the Common Minimum Programme.”
“to provide inputs for the formulation of policy by the Government and to provide support to the Government in its legislative business.”
Now, I cannot conceive how an office of this kind can be created by a simple law, not by a constitutional amendment Act. Of course, the Law Minister is present there. He must have advised that the National Advisory Council Chairman does not come within the meaning of the… (Interruptions)
SHRI MADHUSUDAN MISTRY (SABARKANTHA): Sir, it is not a debate. … (Interruptions)
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : I am not going into the details. I am confining myself only to one point.… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please listen. I have given him the time.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Mistryji, please listen.
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : I am not going into any other provision because I know that already the Prevention of Disqualification Act is there under which many offices have been named, some more to be added. But this particular provision is not in the Schedule. It is one of the principal clauses in the Bill.… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI MADHUSUDAN MISTRY : Sir, he is going into the details.… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Mistryji, this is not the way.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Hon. Minister will reply. Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I know better than you. Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I have given him time. Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : The Council would be supported by a Secretariat with the necessary complement of officers and staff who shall be responsible to the Chairperson. The Council would be provided adequate and appropriate office space by the Central Government. All expenditure incurred in connection with the functioning of the Council would be met by the Central Government… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : This is exactly what I am saying. … (Interruptions) They want to bulldoze. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing should be recorded except the speech of Mr. Advani.
(Interruptions) … *
* Not Recorded.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing should be recorded except the speech of Advaniji.
(Interruptions) … *
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय :आप कन्टीन्यू करें।
…( व्यवधान)
श्री लाल कृष्ण आडवाणी : उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं कन्टीन्यू करूंगा, लेकिन मैंने जिस बात की चिंता स्पीकर महोदय के सामने प्रकट की थी, this is only an evidence of that. There is ample time. You will pass it. You have a majority. Why do you allow this kind of sycophancy to prevail in your Party? … (Interruptions) ये क्या है? Your Chief Whip is behaving in this manner. There is nothing else except the sycophancy. मैंने बोला जबकि बाकी लोग नहीं बोल रहे थे, केवल मैं बोल रहा था। …( व्यवधान)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : Sir, my point is simple. I would think that a provision of this kind where a National Advisory Council is to be created and the Chairperson has to be given these rights and those rights, in actual practice, the whole country has seen in the last two years. For all practical purposes, the Chairperson of this National Advisory Council became a Super Prime Minister. … (Interruptions) For that and everyone agreed that the Office of Prime Minister, as conceived by the Indian Constitution makers, has been devalued, has been diminished.
It is, therefore, that I feel that if this had to be done, this should be done by a Constitutional amendment, not by a simple law as this one. If it is done in that manner then I am afraid that our opposition to this particular Bill becomes more
* Not Recorded.
intense. We think, after you may by majority pass it, and everyone knows it will be passed. You will say that it will benefit your people also, it will benefit others also. Yes, I know that. Let it be, Sir. But, basically, I think that this should have been separated from the Office of Profit Bill that you have brought in today. This is my basic objection to the introduction of the Bill. Other points will be made in the course of the debate. … (Interruptions)
श्री खारबेल स्वाईं : मुझे प्वाइंट ऑफ आर्डर के बारे में कहना है।…( व्यवधान)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Have you given any notice?
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : Sir, at the introduction stage a notice is to be given for raising objection. This is the rule of the House. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Without giving the notice, nobody can be allowed to speak.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : I am raising point of order… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Have you given notice?
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI: It is in the rule book. Nobody can oppose the introduction except the notice maker. You cannot. You cannot take the House in your own hands. … (Interruptions)
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : श्री बृजकिशोर त्रिपाठी, क्या आपका कोई प्वाइंट ऑफ आर्डर है?
…( व्यवधान)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : I am drawing attention to rule 371. … (Interruptions)
श्री सुरेन्द्र प्रकाश गोयल (हापुड़) : उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं कहना चाहता हूं क…( व्यवधान)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: First you should go to your seat.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI: Sir, I rise to a point of order. The established rule of the House cannot be violated by anyone whomsoever be the party… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I agree with you.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI: Sir, allow me to conclude my point of order. The rule is very clear. If before introduction of a Bill… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Mr. Dasmunsi, that will be decided by the Chair.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI: Sir, Rule 72 (2) says:
“Notice to oppose introduction of a Bill shall be addressed to the Secretary-General…”
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The Chair will decide about that.
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI: Sir, how can you prevent me from raising a point of order? You cannot prevent me from raising the point of order.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nobody is going to speak without prior notice. This is what I was going to say.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please take your seat.
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, I want to raise a point of order under rule 376. … (Interruptions)
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : जिसने भी नोटिस नहीं दिया है, उसे नहीं बुला रहे हैं।
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Have you given any notice?
श्री रामजीलाल सुमन (फ़िरोज़ाबाद) : उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, हमारा नोटिस है।
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I have not received any notice so far.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Mr. Tripathy, please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : आडवाणी जी, आप अपनी बात खत्म करिये।
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : Sir, I will again read out the rule relevant to this particular matter. Rule 72 (1) says:
“If a motion for leave to introduce a Bill is opposed, the Speaker, after permitting, if he thinks fit, brief statements from the member who opposes the motion and the member who moved the motion, may, without further debate, put the question:”
After what I have said now, you are correct in putting the question and allow it to be voted. That is all right. But there is a proviso to this rule which says:
“Provided that where a motion is opposed on the ground that the Bill initiates legislation outside the legislative competence of the House, the Speaker may permit a full discussion thereon:”
I have not used the words that this Bill initiates legislation outside the legislative competence of the House, but I have certainly pointed out that my objection to the introduction of this Bill is confined to just one clause which, I believe, should have been more appropriately brought through a Constitution (Amendment) Bill, not through an ordinary Bill, as in this case and, therefore, I think that the Speaker, in his wisdom, can permit other Members also, who have not given notice, to speak. This is my submission. This is your discretion. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: No, this is not possible.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : Sir, there is no disrespect to you. You are fully entitled to decide. We would like to register our protest against the introduction of this Bill by the hon. Minister and, therefore, we stage a walk out.
12.28 hrs.
(At this stage, Shri L.K. Advani and some other
hon. Members left the House.)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, I want to raise a point of order.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Under what rule?
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Under rule 376. I am drawing your attention to rule 376. Kindly listen to me. When the introduction of a Bill is opposed under rule 72, you put the question to seek permission of the House to introduce the Bill and it also deserves division. So, I am now drawing your attention to rule 371. It says:
“If the vote of a member in a division in the House is challenged on the ground of personal, pecuniary or direct interest in the matter to be decided, the Speaker may, if he considers necessary, call upon the member making the challenge to state precisely the grounds of his objection and the member whose vote has been challenged to state his case and shall decide whether the vote of the member should be disallowed or not and his decision shall be final:”
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: This is not the proper time for that.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: This is not the proper time.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Sir, so many Members’ interests are involved. How can they participate in this?… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing should be recorded.
(Interruptions) …*
SHRI H.R. BHARDWAJ : Sir, I will briefly deal with… (Interruptions)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Sir, I am on a point of order… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : Sir, he is challenging your ruling… (Interruptions)
* Not Recorded.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Shri Tripathy, please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN : Sir, I have given a notice… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I have already given my ruling.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Sir, we want division. How can the Members, who are involved, participate in voting?… (Interruptions) At the time of introduction of the Bill, we can challenge it… (Interruptions)
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : त्रिपाठी जी, आप मंत्री जी के स्टेटमेंट के बाद ही बोल सकते हैं।
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI: Sir, he is the Leader of his Party. He should respect the ruling of the Chair… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing should be recorded, except what Shri H.R. Bhardwaj says.
(Interruptions) … *
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I have already given my ruling. You have to sit down now, Shri Tripathy.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please sit down.
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Sir, you should give your ruling… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I have already given my ruling. Please sit down. You can participate in the discussion and say what you want to say.
SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY : Sir, if we are not allowed to speak, then we stage a walk out.
12.33 hrs.
(At this stage, Shri Braja Kishore Tripathy and some other
hon. Members left the House.)
* Not Recorded.
SHRI H.R. BHARDWAJ: Sir, I will briefly deal with, and it is my duty to deal with, the objection raised by the hon. Leader of the Opposition, Shri Advani. I never expected it from a Leader of Opposition to make such a frivolous objection.
Sir, I have been in Parliament for some time now and I know that the introduction of the Bill cannot be objected, in my humble view, except for the legislative incompetence… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please listen to the hon. Minister.
SHRI H.R. BHARDWAJ: Legislative competence can be challenged only when the Parliament lacks competence and only then the hon. Members can say that there is lack of competence. Sir, you heard the hon. Leader of the Opposition. He has nothing to say on the matter of legislative competence of this House. He straightaway touched upon one point that this National Advisory Committee is a constitutional body… (Interruptions) and hence it is a constitutional appointment. It is farthest from truth… (Interruptions)
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN (CHIRAYINKIL): Sir, I have given a notice. It is with you… (Interruptions)
SHRI H.R. BHARDWAJ: Sir, we all know what is a constitutional appointment. Here in this case it has nothing to do with the constitutional appointment… (Interruptions) Sir, I humbly submit that what the hon. Leader of the Opposition has said is absolutely without any foundation… (Interruptions)
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : Sir, I have given a notice… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing should be recorded.
(Interruptions) …*
SHRI H.R. BHARDWAJ: Sir, I think, we should now… (Interruptions)
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : I am supporting the hon. Minister… (Interruptions)
* Not Recorded.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : Sir, allow him to continue his speech.… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please allow him to speak. Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : The Bill is defective.… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The hon. Minister is on his legs. Please allow him to speak.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI H.R. BHARDWAJ : I would not have liked to speak at all because I know at the introductory stage nobody makes long speeches, but the way the Leader of the opposition spoke and for his lack of knowledge of Parliamentary law, I am surprised what will happen to this great institution when he said that this NAC is a ‘constitutional office’. It is not even a statutory office. It was the creation of an order of the Government, of the Cabinet Secretariat and that is what is being termed as a constitutional office. With greatest humility at my command I would like to submit that whatever the Leader of the Opposition has said shows exactly the lack of knowledge of Parliamentary law, and this should not have come from his mouth. Therefore the only thing that at this stage could be said is that this law, and Sir, I would also like to submit one thing, we are not dealing with today the question of appointment or qualification. We are dealing with preventing the disqualification and by inserting one or two more offices into the already existing law. The Parliament has already passed the Prevention of Disqualification Act which is a valid law and time tested Act and we are inserting certain offices which will otherwise disqualify 40 sitting MPs of this House. What a lack of responsibility has been shown by this party! … (Interruptions)
Therefore, I would submit that there is no merit in what Shri Advani, the Leader of the Opposition said, and permit me to introduce this Bill.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER : The question is:
“That leave be granted to introduce a Bill further to amend the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 ”
The motion was adopted.
SHRI H.R. BHARDWAJ : I introduce* the Bill.
—————-
* Introduced with the recommendation of the President.