Govt 'absent', UPA caught off guard in LS

Opposition today caught the government on the wrong foot in the Lok Sabha when its members pointed out that no minister was present in the House during a debate on a bill to amend State Bank of India Act.

Opposition today caught the government on the wrong foot in the Lok Sabha when its members pointed out that no cabinet minister was present in the House during a debate on a bill to amend State Bank of India Act.

The point of order was raised by BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain when his party colleague Nishikant Dubey was speaking on the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks Laws) Amendment Bill, 2009.

He drew the attention of Karuna Shukla, who was in the Chair, saying "not even one cabinet minister is present when an important discussion is taking place".

At that time, only minister of state for finance Namo Narain Meena was present on behalf of the government.

BJP members were soon on their feet and Dubey said he would not speak till some cabinet minister is present.

While Shukla said someone will be coming to the House, Hussain said the government was not being responsible even as it kept blaming the opposition for not being serious about Parliamentary business.

"Government says opposition does not want the House to run and when the House runs, no cabinet minister is present," the BJP member complained.

Soon parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal was seen rushing into the House.

Dubey took a dig at Bansal, saying he had been quoted earlier in the day accusing the Opposition of not being serious about passage of the crucial banking bill.

Asking Bansal to be serious, he said, "I tell him, I will help get the bill passed."