Congress plans action against absentee MPs (Lead)
December 28th, 2011 - 2:49 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) After lack of numbers in the Lok Sabha killed a move to grant constitutional status to the Lokpal, the Congress Wednesday said it was planning disciplinary action against MPs who were absent from the house despite a party whip.
Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy admitted it was a matter of concern that some Congress MPs were not in the house Tuesday night.
He told NDTV 24X7 that the party leadership would decide on the disciplinary action. Normally a show cause notice is issued in such cases.
“Yes, a whip had been issued and they were informed over the phone and by SMS. Still, some Congress MPs were not present in the house. It is quite unfortunate,” he told the channel.
He said the absence of the MPs led to the defeat of the amendment to give constitutional status to the Lokpal.
The government’s constitutional amendment bill in the Lok Sabha was defeated as the ruling coalition didn’t have the 50 percent strength in the Lok Sabha and two-thirds majority of the members present.
When the treasury benches realised what had happened, the Congress was stunned into silence. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal had an animated conversation.
Later, the government blamed the BJP for the defeat of the bill.
- Congress to seek explanation from absentee MPs (Second Lead) - Dec 28, 2011
- Notices to be issued to absenting Congress MPs: Narayanasamy - Dec 28, 2011
- Government begins efforts to reach consensus on Lokpal bill - May 10, 2012
- Rajya Sabha to take up Lokpal debate Thursday (Third Lead) - Dec 28, 2011
- Lokpal bill in Rajya Sabha Thursday (Third Lead) - Dec 28, 2011
- Bansal appeals to Lok Sabha to pass Lokpal bill - Dec 26, 2011
- Congress to seek explanation from absent MPs - Mar 20, 2012
- Rajya Sabha adjourned amid chaos, minus Lokpal (Second Lead) - Dec 30, 2011
- Cabinet to discuss Lokpal bill Tuesday, Hazare calls it worthless (Roundup) - Dec 19, 2011
- Lokpal bill drowns in Rajya Sabha amid chaos (Roundup) - Dec 30, 2011
- Lokpal Bill alive, to be taken up in budget session: Bansal (Lead) - Dec 30, 2011
- Day after Lokpal bill failure, battlelines drawn (Afternoon Lead) - Dec 30, 2011
- By night, Lokpal's fate was sealed - Dec 30, 2011
- Lokpal bill in Rajya Sabha likely later Wednesday: Bansal (Second Lead) - Dec 28, 2011
- Government embarrassed, bill for statutory status for Lokpal defeated - Dec 28, 2011
Tags: affairs minister, amendment bill, animated conversation, benches, bjp, congress mps, constitutional amendment, constitutional status, disciplinary action, finance minister, Lok Sabha, minister of state, ndtv, ndtv 24x7, parliamentary affairs, party leadership, party whip, pawan bansal, pranab mukherjee, realised