BJP attempting to reduce power of Rajya Sabha: JD(U)

The Janata Dal (United) on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to reduce the power of the Rajya Sabha as the ruling party at the Centre does not have a majority in the Upper House.

"There are questions being raised by many people over the conduct and the powers of the Upper House. The BJP doesn't have a majority in the Upper House but it is a House elected by the selected representatives of the states," Janata Dal (United) leader K. C Tyagi told ANI.

Array

"First Arun Jaitley, then Jay Panda, and yesterday V. K Singh also raised questions on the rights of the Upper House. We the Members of Parliament are hurt and that is why we have given a notice to the chairman that it is a breach of privilege," he added.

Tyagi's comment comes at a time when the BJP, which does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha, is making all attempts to get the GST Bill passed in the Upper House.

The Rajya Sabha members from six opposition parties had yesterday moved a notice alleging breach of privilege and contempt of the Upper House against BJD's Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Jay Panda for his article calling for 'reducing' the power of the Upper House.

In the notice to Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari, Mohsina Kidwai (Congress), K C Tyagi (JD-U), Naresh Agrawal (SP), T K Rangarajan (CPI-M), D Raja (CPI)and Derek O 'Brien (Trinamool Congress) held that the views expressed by Panda constitute "breach of privilege" and "contempt of the House".

Panda had written an article reflecting his speech at an event in which he said that Constitutional "reforms must reduce Rajya Sabha's power to block the popular mandate" and favouring a "rethink on veto power of Rajya Sabha".