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The Opposition may have committed a major strategic blunder on the Prevention of Terrorism Bill in the Rajya Sabha by not moving an amendment to the legislation seeking its reference to a select committee which would have delayed a joint sitting of the two Houses by six months.
Parliament sources said the Opposition realised a bit late that such an amendment could cause severe embarrassment to the government keen on early passage of the bill to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance lapsing on April 8.
Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee and Kapil Sibal gave a notice only on Thursday morning, the day the discussion was to take place in the Rajya Sabha. Going by the rules it should have been given 24 hours before the discussion was to begin.
Government refused to enter into any discussion with the Congress on the issue as it may have torpedoed its game plan to get the bill passed in a joint sitting, where it has a comfortable edge over the Opposition.
PTI
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