BJP likely to block bill in upcoming parliament session

Efforts by India's Congress-led UPA government to bring a constitutional amendment bill on the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh in the winter session of parliament, beginning on Thursday, may hit a roadblock with the main opposition BJP still having strong reservations about the proposed law.
Asked about BJP's view on the reported move of the government, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj on Monday said, "There was no discussion with us by the government on this issue."
On whether BJP will allow the government to introduce the bill in the Rajya Sabha, upper house of the parliament, she said the party would discuss the matter in a meeting of BJP's Parliamentary Party executive and later with opposition National Democratic Alliance floor leaders today.
The constitutional bill that envisages exchange of land and enclaves cannot be cleared without BJP's support as it will require the nod of two-thirds of lawmakers present and voting and a minimum of 50 percent of the members being present in both Houses of Parliament.
BJP sources said the party still continued to have serious reservations on the issue, especially with general elections just months away and that it was likely to prevent passage of the proposed legislation.
The main opposition maintains that government will have to explain how it can alter the country's boundary as after the 1973 verdict of the Supreme Court in the Keshavanand Bharti case which says the basic structure of the constitution cannot be changed. This includes the definition of the nation's boundary.
Earlier last month, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the government was determined to bring the bill in the winter session of parliament.