ED, CBI Chief’s Tenure Extension: Ruckus Expected In Parliament As Centre To Table Bills

Last week the central government had brought two ordinances to extend the tenure of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate for up to the period of five years.

New Delhi: On Wednesday, Lok Sabha is likely to have an intense face-off between the Centre and opposition over the two contentious bills, which are supposed to extend the tenure of the directors of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Meanwhile, Opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha are holding a protest against the suspension of twelve of their own from the winter session.

LOK SABHA

Last week the central government had brought two ordinances to extend the tenure of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate for up to the period of five years. The present tenure of the central government agencies’ chiefs is of two years.

Both the ordinances have been signed off by President of India Ram Nath Kovind.

The Opposition is against the bills, and is calling them undemocratic, stating that the government had brought them with ‘malafide intention’. Parties like the Congress and TMC will oppose the extension of tenure to up to five years. As many as 24 Opposition MPs have already moved statutory resolutions against the bills.

Earlier Congress Leader Randeep Surjewala had gone to Supreme Court, challenging the bills. Meanwhile, the Centre is maintaining that fixing the tenure at five years is a ‘streamlining measure’.

As BJP has many numbers in the Lok Sabha, the bills might be passed, despite opposition. Heated arguments, and maybe even protests and a walkout by the Opposition can be expected in the lower House on Wednesday.

RAJYA SABHA

Concerning Rajya Sabha, opposition will protest at Gandhi Statue at the Parliament, on Wednesday, to register their protest against suspension of twelve MPs from the winter session, for their alleged ‘unruly’ behaviour during the previous session.