New Delhi [India], July 19 : Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) president and MP Chandrashekhar Azad on Sunday said his party would first examine the proposed Delimitation Bill before taking a stand, adding that opposing legislation merely for the sake of opposition was not the right approach.
Addressing reporters after the all-party meeting convened ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Azad said the contents of the bill and the amendments proposed by the government would have to be studied before deciding whether to support or oppose it.
"Let the bill come first. Let's see what amendments are proposed; a bill was introduced earlier as well, let's examine it first. Opposing merely for the sake of opposition isn't right. If we feel the bill the government has brought forward isn't good, then we will oppose it," he said.
On a separate issue, Azad reiterated his demand for an inquiry into the alleged Ram Mandir row, saying people who had contributed their hard-earned money deserved transparency regarding how the funds were being used.
He said an investigation would help ensure accountability wherever public contributions had been made.
"I have already made it clear that there should be an inquiry into this (Ram mandir row). Wherever there has been a collective effort, where people have contributed their hard-earned money, they naturally want an investigation to ensure their funds are being used for the right purpose. So, what is wrong with that?" he said.
Earlier in the day, Opposition parties staged a "walkout" from the all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament over Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju extending an invitation to the National Citizens Party of India to take part in the meeting.
They said the move was against the norms, and the TMC rebel MPs' merger into "so-called NCPI" has not been approved by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
Meanwhile, the Monsoon Session of Parliament is set to begin on July 20 and is scheduled to end on August 13. The mergers have ignited speculation around the Centre bringing back the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which proposes an increase in the number of seats in the Lok Sabha up to 850 and implementing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in legislatures.
The NDA is likely to move closer to the two-thirds majority mark of 360 in the House of 540 members, with three seats currently vacant.