New Delhi, Aug 29 (PTI) – A new wave of dissent has emerged as several Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, voiced concerns over the effectiveness of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) established to review controversial new bills. These bills propose the removal of the prime minister, chief ministers, and other ministers if they face arrest for a period of 30 days. Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien has expressed skepticism, suggesting the committee is largely under the influence of ruling party legislators.
In a detailed blog titled 'Six reasons why JPCs do not inspire confidence,' O'Brien highlighted historical instances where Opposition parties raised objections against JPCs that were perceived as biased due to the ruling party's dominance.
Citing the 1987 JPC created to investigate the Bofors contract scam, O'Brien recalled how six major Opposition parties, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), boycotted the panel. The committee's 1988 report was eventually rejected by non-Congress parties for alleged bias, he said.
Further referencing the 2013 JPC formed for the Augusta Westland VVIP choppers case, O'Brien noted that opposition leader Arun Jaitley dismissed the panel's formation as futile and purely diversionary.
Highlighting recent trends, O'Brien pointed out that since 2014, 11 JPCs have been constituted, with seven initiated on the last day of the parliamentary session. This contrasts sharply with the period from 2004 to 2014, when only three JPCs were set up, none on the session's final day.
O'Brien also criticized the report on the Waqf Amendment Bill, explaining that initial omissions of dissent notes by the Opposition sparked significant protests, prompting BJP MP Medha Kulkarni to issue a corrigendum in the Rajya Sabha.
Observing a historical pattern, O'Brien recounted that the Congress, after initiating the Bofors JPC in 1987, fell from power in the 1989 elections and faced similar outcomes in subsequent years with other JPCs. He noted this trend with BJP-crafted JPCs in 2002 and 2003 on the Ketan Parekh scam and Congress-initiated JPCs on the 2G and VVIP chopper scams.
The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2025, alongside other significant bills, was introduced in the Lok Sabha amidst intense protests. These bills, aimed at removing senior officials following 30 days of arrest on grievous charges, have been referred to a JPC as well.
The committee, consisting of 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, has been tasked to present its findings during the winter session, likely set for the third week of November. However, parties like the TMC, Samajwadi Party, Aam Aadmi Party, and Shiv Sena (UBT) have announced their decision not to participate by nominating MPs to the panel. PTI AO RUK RUK
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