By Saman Indrajith

SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar yesterday called on leaders of political parties in Parliament to allow a conscience vote on the 20th Amendment Bill. Participating in the second reading state debate on the 20th Amendment, Markar asked whether any MP with a conscience could vote for that Bill.

“No MP could vote in favour of the 20th Amendment according to their conscience as they will be giving up their power as representatives of the people if they do so.”

“You will make your own Prime Minister powerless if you vote in favour of the 20th Amendment. I do not agree with the conduct of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. But his charisma helped you (the government) to come to power.

“The 20th Amendment will be defeated by a two-thirds majority if the MPs are allowed to vote in accordance with their conscience.”

He recalled how the current Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had opposed the 13th Amendment. “I was watching from the gallery in Parliament how you acted in accordance with your conscience and opposed the 13th Amendment. Therefore allow the MPs to vote according to their conscience.

“We have to do the right thing, no matter how difficult the circumstances are. That is why we vote against this Bill. We cannot raise our hands in support of a thing which could be the death of democracy in the country. Let me tell you that, those who will raise their hands in support to this Amendment today will be the ones who will suffer because of it in the future.”

 The MP said it was baffling why the government was desperate to pass the Amendment without giving a chance for the people to raise their concerns.

“Many parties have raised their concerns about this amendment and its impact on the country. The President has all the power. He has a two-thirds majority in Parliament as well. Parliament should be summoned to discuss how we should face COVID-19 pandemic as a nation. But here, we discuss a Constitutional amendment without talking about our people who are becoming jobless and victims of poverty. Even then, the Government wants to pass this hurriedly without giving the people an opportunity to discuss it.

 “We have emerged from a horrible past, when politicians controlled the Police and Law enforcement authorities. Time was when women were stripped naked and made to walk on roads. After establishing independent commissions we never witnessed such situations. Now, this Amendment tries to abolish those independent commissions and have all the power vested in one person. Why are we doing this? A person could be a terrible dictator when he was given unlimited power.”