BJP seeks permission of RS head to oppose LBA Bill

NEW DELHI: BJP today sought permission from the Rajya Sabha Chairperson to oppose the introduction of a Bill regarding the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh on the ground that it violates the basic structure of the Constitution but the government contested this claim.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley today wrote to the Secretary General of the Upper House seeking permission to oppose the Constitution (One Hundred and Nineteenth) Amendment Bill, 2013.

He argued since the Bill seeks to alter the territory of India on Bangladesh border, it "violates" the basic structure of the Constitution.

"My objection is based on the fact that after 1973 when the concept of basic structure of the Constitution was evolved in the Kesavanand Bharati case, Parliament has no jurisdiction to alter the territory of India. The territory represents the sovereignty and are both a part of the basic structure of the Constitution and thus unamenable," Jaitley said.

He insisted the power to amend the Constitution is restricted by Article 368 which implies that the basic structure cannot be altered. "Territory of India is a part of the Constitution. It cannot be reduced or altered by an amendment to the Constitution. I may be given permission to oppose the introduction of this Bill," Jaitley said in his letter.

Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid, who was to introduce the Bill, wrote to the Rajya Sabha Chairman countering Jaitley's claims.

"This is incorrect since India as a sovereign state, has an inherent right to acquire foreign territory or alter or cede its territories and to suggest that it does not would be contrary to national interest," Khurshid said.

He cited the Berubari Union judgement (1960), the Union of India versus Sukumar Sengupta judgement (1990), and the Attorney General's opinion to underline his point.