Govt will redraw Enemy Property Bill
With sharp differences rocking the Lok Sabha over the Enemy Property Bill, the government on Monday withdrew it. It, however, claimed that it would bring a “fresh piece of legislation” in the Winter Session to amend the law governing properties left behind by those who went to Pakistan during partition.
The government appeared to be forced to take such a move, as leaders of the SP and the RJD opposed the bill and created uproarious scene by trooping to the well of the House leading to an adjournment. Both SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad termed the proposed legislation as “anti-Muslim” and wanted changes, but were strongly opposed by the BJP and the Shiv Sena.
Home minister P. Chidambaram said after extensive discussions, members had sought more time to study the amendments along with the ordinance that was issued on July 2. “It is a reasonable request... We will bring a fresh bill incorporating the amendments in the Winter Session of Parliament,” he said.
The BJP, however, was not satisfied with the response of the home minister and questioned the “intention” of the government behind the move. Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said the BJP was prepared to support the Bill in its original form but not with the amendments arguing that in such a case, the bill should be referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee.
“The BJP will oppose if the bill is brought along with the amendments. You will have to send it to the Standing Committee where a better discussion can take place,” she said.
The draft legislation ran into trouble when the government moved certain official amendments after consultations with the SP and the RJD leaders, which left the BJP fuming.
As per the draft bill courts will have no jurisdiction over occupation of properties, which have been left behind by those who went to Pakistan at the time of partition. There are about 2,000 such properties in India.
Ms Swaraj said her party suspects that the government would allow the ordinance to lapse and bring in a new one. Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani also intervened at this point of discussion saying it seems the government wanted the ordinance to lapse, which would happen if this bill is not passed in Parliament. “It seems that you don’t want to take it (bill) to the Standing Committee,” he added. The amendments proposed now would undo the ordinance practically, Mr Advani said adding that it was perhaps for the first time a bill to replace an ordinance has not been moved.
Responding to the allegations of the leaders from Opposition benches, Mr Chidambram said, “I do not want to answer hypothetical questions... You are looking for ghosts where none reside. Amendments were proposed after extensive consultations and some parties required more time to study. What is unusual about it? This is nothing new or surreptitious.”
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