Mines and Minerals Bill passed in RS as Opposition stands divided

The bill seeks to introduce a system of auction for mines that supply minerals like iron ore and bauxite.

 Like  the land bill and coal bill, the Mines bill ratifies an ordinance or temporary executive order that will lapse on April 5.

Of the total 188 members present in the Upper House, 117 voted in favour of the bill while  69 voted against and two abstained.

Before passing the bill the House voted down a proposal by the Left to send it to a Parliamentary committee again for review.

The government's success in getting adequate support to  the bill is significant since the ruling coalition is in the minority in Rajya Sabha.

The Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Nationalist Congress Party voted in favour of the bill.  All these parties had joined the opposition march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday to protest against the amendment to the land acquisition bill.

The Janata Dal (United) walked out while the  Congress and the Left voted against the bill.

 

It will now be taken up by the Lok Sabha, where the BJP-led NDA government enjoys an overwhelming majority.

The division in the opposition appears to be the result of the revenue gains for state government once auctioning for minerals starts.