‘Successful in business, not debate’: Parliament Monsoon Session ends with 12 Bills passed, Lok Sabha productivity at 19%
NEW DELHI: Parliament’s Monsoon Session ended on Thursday with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha being adjourned sine die, bringing to a close a session marked by repeated disruptions and protests by opposition parties.Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the session was successful in terms of legislative business, with 12 Bills passed, but criticised the quality of debates and discussions.Addressing a press briefing, he said the government was not satisfied with the level of parliamentary discussion during the session.
Lok Sabha productivity at 19%, Rajya Sabha at 39%
Rijiju said Lok Sabha productivity stood at 19% of the total allotted time, while Rajya Sabha recorded 39%.“The Monsoon Session concluded today. We view it from two perspectives. In terms of business, it was a very successful session; we passed a total of 12 bills. However, from the perspective of debate and discussion, it was not as successful,” Rijiju said.He alleged that opposition parties repeatedly disrupted proceedings and avoided discussions offered by the government.“Based on my parliamentary experience and what I have seen in my life, this is the first time the Opposition was running away from discussions,” he said.According to Rijiju, 11 Bills were passed in the Lok Sabha without discussion, while one Bill underwent discussion. He said the Bills were discussed in the Rajya Sabha, although Congress and some other Opposition members staged a walkout.
Public Examinations Bill was discussed in both Houses
Rijiju said the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill was the only legislation to undergo a full discussion in the Lok Sabha during the session.“Only one bill, addressing the issue of paper leaks and unfair means in examinations, underwent a full discussion in the Lok Sabha,” he said.The legislation, which seeks to prevent unfair means in public examinations, was also discussed in the Rajya Sabha before being passed during the session.
Opposition protests continued through the session
The Monsoon Session, which began on July 20, witnessed prolonged disruptions in both Houses.Opposition protests initially focused on the NEET paper leak and alleged irregularities involving donations to the Ram temple in Ayodhya.The opposition later sought discussions on police action against students protesting over the NEET issue and demanded statements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah.The government offered a discussion on the NEET paper leak and related issues, along with a reply from Shah, but the proposal was rejected by the Congress. A similar proposal made on Wednesday also failed to break the deadlock.Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition wanted answers over allegations concerning police action against protesting students and criticised the prospect of a speech by Shah.
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Rijiju targets Congress over disruptions
Rijiju accused Congress MPs of reducing their parliamentary role to sloganeering and creating disruptions.“Another observation I have made is that Congress MPs seem to believe their primary role is merely to raise slogans and create a ruckus with placards and banners,” he said.He also said disruptions had particularly affected newly elected MPs by limiting opportunities for debate and discussion.“As the minister of parliamentary affairs, I feel genuinely sorry for the Congress MPs, especially the new ones,” Rijiju said. “How can they learn if there are no debates or discussions?”He expressed hope that opposition parties would reflect on their conduct and participate in more substantive debates when Parliament reconvenes for the Winter Session.The session also saw counter-protests between BJP and INDIA bloc MPs at the Makar Dwar steps of the Parliament complex.
