NEW DELHI: The Monsoon Session of Parliament ended on Thursday with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha being adjourned sine die amid repeated disruptions and political confrontations between the government and Opposition.The session, which began on July 20, witnessed protests inside and outside the Houses over several issues, while Parliament also passed a number of legislations.
Rijiju says session successful in business, but debate fell short
Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the Monsoon Session was successful in terms of legislative business but fell short on debate and discussion. He said Parliament passed 12 Bills during the session, but productivity remained low amid repeated disruptions.“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 said the Lok Sabha recorded 19 per cent productivity against the total time allotted, while productivity in the Rajya Sabha stood at 39 per cent. Rijiju attributed the lower productivity largely to disruptions by Opposition parties, while noting that NDA members and MPs from some Opposition parties participated in debates.Rijiju said only one Bill in the Lok Sabha — the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, dealing with paper leaks and unfair means in examinations — underwent a full discussion. The legislation was also discussed in the Rajya Sabha.He criticised the Opposition for not allowing debates to proceed, saying the government was ready to provide answers to questions raised by Opposition MPs. “This is not healthy for the parliamentary democracy,” Rijiju said.He also accused Congress MPs of focusing on slogans, placards and protests instead of parliamentary debate, and said he hoped there would be a change before the Winter Session.“In the Lok Sabha, 11 bills were passed without discussion, while one underwent discussion,” Rijiju said, adding that the concerned Bill was fully discussed in the Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha skips question hour, passes Mines and Minerals Bill
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die after chairman C P Radhakrishnan highlighted the performance of the House during the session.Deviating from the normal pre-lunch schedule on the final day, the Upper House dispensed with the Zero Hour and Question Hour and took up the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill. The legislation was subsequently passed by a voice vote.The Rajya Sabha had witnessed repeated disruptions during the session over issues including police action against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak and allegations concerning the theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.The House also witnessed a confrontation between leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and the government over an alleged ‘Shuddhikaran’ or purification ritual at a stage in Haldwani after Kharge addressed a Congress rally there on August 8.Kharge raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, saying he had spoken about people’s problems and had not mentioned any community or religion during his speech.“But after my speech, people associated with the BJP carried out a ‘purification’ ritual of that stage,” Kharge said, questioning whether such an incident was appropriate in a democracy.Leader of the House JP Nadda said the BJP did not support such activities and assured the House that the allegation would be investigated.“What Kharge ji has said is truly a matter of concern—not just for the Congress party, but for all of us,” Nadda said. “I want to make it absolutely clear that the BJP does not subscribe to such activities.”Chairman C P Radhakrishnan said untouchability was condemned by all members and asked the government to investigate the allegation and punish those responsible if it was found to be true.
Lok Sabha ends amid opposition protests
The Lok Sabha was also adjourned sine die soon after proceedings began on the final day, following the traditional playing of Vande Mataram.Proceedings were disrupted by Opposition MPs amid sloganeering, with political tensions also spilling into the Parliament complex.BJP and opposition held counter-protests at the Makar Dwar steps, with the BJP protesting against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over the Congress’ position on the ongoing protests in Jharkhand.Opposition MPs, meanwhile, raised demands for the Union Home Minister to make a statement in the House and for the Prime Minister to respond to issues raised by them.Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi accused the ruling party of preventing Parliament from functioning.
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“It is the ruling party itself that is preventing Parliament from functioning,” he said, arguing that the Opposition had been seeking discussions and responses from the government on issues including the Public Examinations Amendment Act.Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar rejected the opposition’s allegations and said Parliament could not function without discussion.“The Lok Sabha is a forum for discussion. There is no point in proceeding without discussion,” Khattar said. He added that the House was a platform for representatives from across the country and “does not belong to any single individual”.The session ended after weeks of political confrontation, with disruptions remaining a prominent feature of proceedings in both Houses.
