Women Reservation: Modi government took out ‘Rule 66’ Brahmastra! All three bills will be passed in one stroke, the opposition will be shocked

In the arena of politics, when things are not possible through direct tactics, then tricks are taken out from the thick book of parliamentary rules, which can defeat the opponent. Today a similar scene is going to be seen in the Parliament, where the Modi government has prepared its biggest maze – suspension of ‘Rule 66’ – to break the siege of the opposition.

Opposition’s ‘move’ and government’s ‘counterattack’

When the entire ‘INDIA Alliance’ was beating its chest on the fact that they are in support of the Women’s Reservation Bill, but will not allow the ‘delimitation’ condition attached to it to be passed at any cost, then the government turned the tables. The opposition felt that they would spoil the game of the government with their numerical strength, but the Modi government has taken out the weapon from the rule book of the Lok Sabha which has created panic in the opposition camp.

After all, what is this magical ‘Rule 66’?

Rule 66 of ‘Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business’, the book of parliamentary procedure, is a special technical provision. This rule applies when one bill is completely dependent on another. To put it in simple language, if Bill-B is not passed, then Bill-A will have no existence. This rule ensures that dependency bills can be introduced in the House without any technical hurdles.

Why is the government suspending it?

Generally, when different bills come in the House, discussion and voting on them also take place separately. The opposition was waiting for this. Their plan was that they would press ‘Yes’ on the ‘Women’s Reservation Bill’, but would vote ‘No’ on the ‘Delimitation Bill’ and defeat it. The government was aware of this move. Therefore, the government has decided to bring a proposal to suspend ‘Rule 66’ itself. As soon as it is suspended, the technical compulsion of the government to conduct separate voting will end.

Now for the opposition ‘well in front, ditch behind’

The suspension of Rule 66 means that now the bills related to women’s reservation, delimitation and Union Territories (UTs) will not be put for voting separately, but as a ‘grand proposal’. Now opposition MPs will no longer have the option of pressing different buttons. Either they have to pass all the bills or they all have to be defeated.

• If the opposition says ‘no’: So they will technically be against ‘women’s reservation’ also. Then the government will declare them ‘anti-women’ across the country.
• If the opposition says ‘yes’: So along with women’s reservation, the ‘Delimitation Bill’ will also be passed like butter, which they were strongly opposing.

What will happen in Parliament today?

Today Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will present ‘Delimitation Bill’ and ‘Constitution Amendment Bill’ in the Lok Sabha. At the same time, Home Minister Amit Shah will table the ‘Union Territory Bill’ in the House. After presenting these three, the government will bring a ‘combined’ proposal to pass them together in one go. This is the chessboard of the government, in which every move of the opposition is sure to backfire.