December 18, 2013
Trinamool protests against Bangladesh Land Demarcation Bill in the Rajya Sabha
The Bangladesh Land Demarcation Bill created a huge uproar in the Rajya Sabha with Trinamool Congress MPs tearing the Bill in protest. Trinamool MPs stormed into the well as soon as External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid introduced the Bill in the House.
The Bill provides for exchange of certain territories between India and Bangladesh and demarcation of the border as per the 1974 agreement between the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Bangaldeshi counterpart.
AITC Chief Whip in the Rajya Sabha Derek O`Brien alleged that the Bill was introduced through the back door by the Congress. “This was introduced via back door by the Congress. The Vice Chairman of the Rajya Sabha had promised it won`t come up but now we seriously question his conscience. We tore the Bill as part of the protest,“ he said.
Later, Derek O'Brien also commented that the Govt sneakily added the Constitutional amendment Bill to the legislative business for the day, which was unbecoming for bills of such importance. “Entire House protested, except Congress & CPI(M). Are they loyal to Bengal or Bangladesh?“ asked the AITC Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha.
