Having done that, the BJP now has to deal with dissension within its own ranks. Not too long ago, HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi had led the battle to prevent moves to amend the patents law. BJP leaders said that efforts would be made over the next few days to convince many party MPs, who are already uneasy about the direction the Government is taking, to support the Bill.

The Swadeshi Jagran Manch is opposed to the Bill (as it is to the Insurance Bill), believing it to be anti-swadeshi and another step towards globalisation. While making this clear, senior SJM leader and BJP MP in the Rajya Sabha Mahesh Chandra Sharma said he would follow the party line in Parliament.

ParliamentaryAffairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana said the Government would try and pass the Bill in this session itself. However, sources said that though the Bill had been approved by the Cabinet, there were different views within the Government on various provisions. Given this, there may be amendments to the Bill or it may be referred to a joint select committee.Taken in the context of the RSS's condemnation last week of the Government's anti-swadeshi economic policies and its warning that unless the Vajpayee regime mended its ways the RSS might consider supporting another political party, the decision to introduce the Bill is seen as a signal that the Government will not be bullied.

PMO officials said the Government had to pass the Patents Bill by April next year to meet its commitment to the WTO. The Congress yet again came to the Government's rescue, suddenly reversing its earlier view that it should be sent to a joint select committee. Leaders of Opposition in both Houses, Sharad Pawar and Manmohan Singh, metVajpayee this afternoon to convey the Congress stand that the Bill should be passed in this session itself.

In the morning, at a meeting of BJP MPs in the Rajya Sabha, it was unanimously decided that after its introduction, the Bill should be referred to a joint select committee (which would effectively mean that the Bill was delayed). This had satisfied those who oppose the Bill.

But after the Congress turnaround, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana announced that the attempt would be to pass the Bill this session. The Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha will now decide the schedule for discussion and voting on the Bill. When the Bill came up for introduction in the Rajya Sabha this afternoon, the BJP and the Congress both had issued whips to its MPs to remain present teamed up to block the Left.

The CPI(M) and the CPI, backed by the DMK and other Opposition parties, put up a stiff protest citing technical and moral objections to thwart the introduction of the Bill but couldnot do more than that. They stormed the well of the House when it came to the motion being put to vote. But this was not enough, for, the BJP and the Congress had enough strength to vote them out even if there was a division. And even as the protests continued, Heptulla took a voice vote and adjourned the House. ``Parliament is being bulldozed.

The Bill infringes upon the fundamental right of citizens as it gives exclusive rights to foreign monopoly firms,'' opponents of the Bill shouted. Not long ago, the BJP had joined the Left and other non-Congress parties to force the then Congress government to have this Bill referred to a joint select committee but today they demonstrated that they think alike on key economic issues.