RTI bill voting: Derek O'Brien accuses BJP MP of manipulating ballot

TMC MP Derek O'Brien alleged that a BJP MP manipulated ballot papers during voting on the RTI amendment bill in Rajya Sabha. The parliament approved the amendment to the RTI Act which gives the government powers to decide salary and service terms of the statutory body's head and members, with the Rajya Sabha passing it by a voice vote.

New Delhi: TMC MP Derek O'Brien on Thursday alleged that a BJP MP manipulated ballot papers during voting on the RTI amendment bill in Rajya Sabha.

"BJP MP caught red-handed trying to manipulate; had multiple ballot papers with him. He was influencing MPs distributing & collecting ballot papers #Shame Appeal to @rajyasabhatv to share video footage recorded on multi-cameras," he tweeted.

O'Brien, however, refrained from naming the erring parliamentarian.

"In the larger interest of democracy, @rajyasabhatv should air all footage of what transpired in the House today while voting to send the RTI Bill to a #Parliament committee. RTI Right to Information became RTI Right to Intimidation. Did the same tactics get BJP 303 seats!," he said.

• In the larger interest of democracy, @rajyasabhatv should air all footage of what transpired in the House today while voting to send the RTI Bill to a #Parliament committee. RTI Right to Information became RTI Right to Intimidation. Did the same tactics get BJP 303 seats!

  — Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) July 25, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  In the larger interest of democracy, @rajyasabhatv should air all footage of what transpired in the House today while voting to send the RTI Bill to a #Parliament committee. RTI Right to Information became RTI Right to Intimidation. Did the same tactics get BJP 303 seats!

  — Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) July 25, 2019

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  In the larger interest of democracy, @rajyasabhatv should air all footage of what transpired in the House today while voting to send the RTI Bill to a #Parliament committee. RTI Right to Information became RTI Right to Intimidation. Did the same tactics get BJP 303 seats!

  — Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) July 25, 2019

The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and other opposition parties had wanted the bill to be sent to a select committee.

The parliament on Thursday approved the amendment to the RTI Act which gives the government powers to decide salary and service terms of the statutory body's head and
members, with the Rajya Sabha passing it by a voice vote.

The Upper House witnessed high drama when it negated a motion for sending the bill to a House panel.