Raje govt refers controversial bill to select committee

Jaipur, October 24 : Amid protest by the Opposition and BSP in the Rajasthan Assembly, the Raje government on Tuesday sent the controversial ‘gag’ bill on amendment of the CrPC which it had tabled in the House on Monday to a select committee for review and reference till the next session of the House.
As the House resumed on the second day for Question Hour, opposition members raised the issue demanding withdrawal of the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, and rushed to the Well of the House shouting slogans and traded charges with the treasury benches.
Home Minister GC Kataria told the House that the state government had taken the permission of the President while issuing the ordinance on September 7. Comparing the Maharashtra government’s bill with Rajasthan’s ordinance/bill, Kataria said the provision of 180 days against Maharashtra’s 80 days, and restriction on the media for coverage of a case before 180 days would be reviewed. Kataria’s motion to refer the Bill to the select committee was passed by a voice vote, Speaker Kailash Meghwal said.