Lucknow, November 7
The Mayawati government faced yet another major embarrassment when it failed to see through the controversial Uttar Pradesh Control of Organised Crime (UPCOCA) Bill in the Upper House. Passed in the Vidhan Sabha, the Bill has now been referred to a select committee.
On the last day of the winter session of the state Assembly the Samajwadi Party managed to have its way in the Upper House as it pressed for a vote. With the ruling BSP in a minority in the Vidhan Parishad, SP succeeded in pushing the Bill to the select committee.
Earlier, on Monday amidst a walk out from the entire opposition the ruling party had managed to pass the Bill through voice vote in the Vidhan Sabha.
Illustrating the state government’s tearing hurry to push through the Bill, senior BJP leader Hukum Singh said the government had proposed almost 75 amendments in the Bill within four days of its introduction. Singh had also criticised the Bill as he said it did not mention how it proposed to tackle terrorism.
Leader of the Opposition and former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had opposed the Bill saying that the sole intention of the Bill was to settle scores with political rivals.
Expressing his apprehensions Yadav had said the police and party in power would misuse the law, as it gives virtually no opportunity to the accused to defend himself.
