Hours before Parliament breaks for a month-long recess in the Budget session, the Mines and Minerals Bill and the Coal Mines Bill were passed by the Rajya Sabha, with the government managing to swing the support of some opposition parties.
The mines bill, part of key reforms in the government's economic agenda, seeks to introduce a system of auction for mines that supply minerals like iron ore and bauxite. Parliament's approval is a thumbs-up for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bid to kickstart an industry that has languished for years.
117 members of the Upper House voted for the Bill today, 69 voted against. Two abstained. Minutes before passing the Bill, the House voted down a proposal by the Left that it be sent to a Parliamentary committee again for review.
The Mines Bill will now be taken up by the Lok Sabha, where the BJP-led government enjoys an overwhelming majority. The government is in abject minority in the Rajya Sabha and needs the help of Opposition parties to pass bills.
The break in Opposition unity appears to be a result of the increased revenue that state governments will mop up after the bill is passed. The parties that supported the Mines Bill today had marched on Tuesday along with the Congress and the Left to protest against the government's other key reform, the land acquisition bill.
Like the land bill, the mines bill and coal bill ratify an ordinance or temporary executive order that will lapse on April 5. Another key reform, the Insurance Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with the support of the Congress.
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