Amendments by Oppn in Finance Bill approved in RS; Amended Bill returned to LS

29 March, New Delhi

In a major embarrassment to the NDA government, the Opposition Wednesday forced five amendments in the Finance Bill, 2017 before the Bill was returned to the Lok Sabha.

The amendments in the Finance Bill moved by Digvijaya Singh of the Congress and Sitaram Yechury of the CPI(M), were approved by the Upper House.

While the three amendments moved by Singh, which rejected the changes made in the Income Tax Act, 1961, were approved with a majority of 80 to 50, a majority of 84 to 52 and a majority of 84 to 50 respectively, the two amendments moved by Yechury, which sought to reject the changes in the Companies Act made by the Finance Bill, were approved with 80 members voting in favour and 53 voting against it.

The Bill with amendments was returned to the Lok Sabha.