Finance Bill cleared by Rajya Sabha
THE Rajya Sabha yesterday cleared the Finance Bill 2014 - all that is left for it to become the Act is the Presidential approval.
The discussion in the Rajya Sabha started with strong protests from Congress Members about the absence of the Finance Minister from the house, even though the MoS Nirmala Sitharaman was present. A Congress Member said, "Sir, I strongly object to it. Unless Mr. Arun Jaitley comes, the Congress Party will not allow the debate. …. Sir, I have been in Rajya Sabha for the last twelve years. It has never happened in history. Without the Finance Minister, the Finance Bill cannot be moved. We strongly object to it and we do not accept it. That is all. You have to call him, and, then only, we shall start."
After some time the Finance Minister came into the House and explained that he was in the other house. He then moved the Bill for consideration and return. Even during the course of the debate, some Members objected to the absence of the Finance Minister. One Member even said that he is doing PR work in the Central Hall, to which the MoS strongly objected.