The National Assembly’s Deputy Speaker, Chimi Dorji maintains the Motor Vehicles Agreement has been ratified even though an Opposition member says otherwise. During yesterday’s voting 22 had voted in favour of the ratification, 14 against and three abstained.
The National Assembly Act says a bill shall be passed by a simple majority of the total number of members of the National Assembly. Panbang MP and member of Opposition, Dorji Wangdi says going by the Act, 24 should have voted in favour for it to be a simple majority.
MP Dorji Wangdi said the Speaker is not above the law.
However, the Deputy Speaker said they went by the Principle of Precedence whereby they took into account of the majority of the total number of members present during the session.
BBS had run the story saying the agreement was ratified by the house.
The Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic is between Bhutan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Those, who voted against the ratification, had felt the agreement needed more research. The MPs said they could also deliberate on the agreement extensively if its ratification was deferred.
Lamgong-Wangchang MP, Khandu Wangchuk said such kind of agreement will only benefit big countries with big economy. “The agreement attaches out more importance to them. We don’t even need such kind of agreement as most of our trading is with India. Such undertaking could also hamper our relations with India.” He also said the agreement could hamper the local bus and taxi service since it would free movement of vehicles from signatory countries.
North-Thimphu MP, Kinga Tshering quoted a similar agreement between Mongolia, China, and Russia. “It has only benefitted China and Russia”.
But those in favour of the ratification said there was a thorough study done and that equal priority has been given to all the countries involved.
