Disruption follows brief truce in RS as retiring members bid farewell to House
Chairman Venkaiah Naidu and deputy chairman PJ Kurien on Wednesday expressed dismay at the frequent disruptions of the proceedings in Rajya Sabha, which bid farewell to 60 of its members, including Kurien, who will retire over the course of next few weeks. The occasion was marked by a rare truce in the Upper House where, along with the Lok Sabha, the second leg of the ongoing budget session is headed towards a complete washout as disruption and adjournment turned into a norm over the past three weeks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without mentioning disruption, called it “unfortunate” that the retiring members “lost an opportunity to leave behind their legacy” on “historic legislation” such as the controversial triple talaq bill. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Modi stressed that the responsibility of smooth functioning of Parliament lay not only with the opposition but also with the government.
“It is not necessary that whatever happens in the Green House (Lok Sabha) should happen in the Red House (Rajya Sabha),” Modi said, adding the Upper House was a distinguished House with eminent members serving and playing a vital role in the Indian democracy. “It is unfortunate that the retiring members will not be part of Parliament when the long due decision on Triple Talaq is taken,” but added that who would be re-elected would be able to take part in the discussion of this “historic bill.”
“We will realise in the next 10-20 years that we have not been able to contribute to this historic legislation,” he said, even as he praised the contributions of all the retiring members and wished them well for the future.
Taking exception to the his remarks, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad (Congress) said it would be unfair to blame the Opposition for forcefully raising people’s issues in the House. “I want to tell the nation that if democracy is alive in the country, it is because of Parliament,” he said and asserted that Opposition has a right to raise such issues in Parliament to discharge its duties.
“Our protests were never against the Chair or against some particular people. They weren’t politically motivated. It was not against the colleagues,” while asserting that major issues critically affecting the people were being raised.
Sixty members from 17 states, including 4 nominated members, are retiring over the next few weeks upon completion of their six-year terms.
A majority of the retiring members stressed in their short farewell speeches that there should be more discussion and less disruption in the House. Some even advocated tweaking of the rules of conduct to make the House free of disruptions.
Later, chairman Naidu said he has decided to review the rules of the Upper House in order to minimise disruptions, which have marred its proceedings during the ongoing budget session.
“I have already decided to have a review of the rules of Rajya Sabha and once the draft is prepared, it will be discussed in the Rules Committee and then finally after a general discussion, we will move in that direction, what Rahman Khan has just mentioned,” Naidu said.
“Pay attention to the rules and procedures of the Rajya Sabha. Why are there disruptions today? Why are we shying away from discussion, why is the Government shying away from discussion? Somewhere the Opposition feels that it is not being given an opportunity to present its views. That is why we take support of disruptions,” Khan, the retiring Congress MP, had said.
Naidu also urged the MPs not to “further erode the quality of our polity” and make a fresh beginning. The second leg of the Budget session, which began on March 5, failed to transact any substantial business. While the Upper House was able to pass only the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017, the Lok Sabha managed to clear the Finance Bill, 2018.
“During this short span of time (three sessions), I have had mixed emotions . ... In this session, on several occasions, I appealed to parties, their leaders to ensure the smooth functioning of the House. I must confess that I am deeply perturbed the way we have been conducting ourselves,” Naidu said.
“Whatever has happened, has happened. Let us make a new beginning and see to it that we conduct ourselves in a more dignified manner and live up to the expectations of the Constitution’s framers and people of the country,” Naidu said in an emotionally –charged speech.
Naidu also said that it was a matter of concern that despite the stellar contribution made by many women members, they still constitute only 11.7% of the total membership.
Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury, among the six women members retiring, raised the “Surpanakha” jibe made against her by the Prime Minister, saying as an old member of the Upper House, she had “seen it all from Shah Bano to Surpanakha” as Modi looked on.
Deputy chairman Kurien echoed Naidu’s sentiments, as he recalled that the biggest form of protest in the 1980s used to be “walking out of the House” but now members “walk into the Well”. “Every MP is equally responsible. My only appeal is rack your brains and come to a solution to see that the level of Parliament/Rajya Sabha does not deteriorate,” he said.
DMK leader Kanimozhi said MPS from parties such as hers are at times left with no choice but to rush to the Well “to be heard and seek justice”. To this Naidu quipped, “all is that not well that ends up in Well.”
NEW DELHI: