Zero per cent Bills scrutinised by Parliamentary committees: Derek O'Brien

Trinamool Congress's (TMC) Parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien on Tuesday slammed the Narendra Modi-led NDA government for rushing their Bills through the Lok Sabha.

He said that only zero per cent bills had been scrutinised by the Parliamentary committees so far.

Speaking to ANI, Derek said: "In 14th Lok Sabha (2004-9) 60 per cent of the Bills were scrutinised and studied by the Parliament committees. In 15th Lok Sabha (2009-14) 71 per cent of the Bills were scrutinised. In 16th Lok Sabha (2014-19), the figure was only 26 per cent. Bad start to current 17th Lok Sabha: ZERO per cent of Bills have been scrutinised. As a constructive Opposition, we will save democracy."

The Lok Sabha passed the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill 2019 on Monday amid a division in the House after Home Minister Amit Shah sought a vote on the legislation.

"The situation is serious. Seven Bills have been passed in the new session of the Parliament but none of them were checked. Having a majority doesn't allow you to bulldoze the Opposition," the TMC leader said.

"Parliament is supposed to scrutinise Bills. Now, in the first two weeks in this Lok Sabha session, zero per cent of the Bills have been scrutinised. We have to scrutinise the bills, otherwise, what are we doing in the Parliament," he added.