The Hindu : National : Congress wants Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson for itself

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Sunday, Jul 04, 2004

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National

Congress wants Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson for itself

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 3. The Congress today made it clear that it would like to have someone from within its ranks as the next Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, today appealed to the Opposition to help facilitate a consensus on the issue. He, however, said that, if necessary, the election for a new Deputy Chairperson would be held during the budget session of Parliament starting on July 5.

At a press conference, Mr. Azad also indicated that there was little possibility of his party agreeing to yet another term for Najma Heptulla as Deputy Chairperson. He has requested Jaswant Singh, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, to help evolve a consensus on the issue.

The Minister felt that it was quite natural for the ruling party to have a presiding officer of its choice. The previous Government also had adopted this practice. "In the Rajya Sabha, we must have at least one presiding officer from our party,'' he said.

The Minister held out an olive branch to the Opposition on the question of " tainted" Ministers by expressing the Government's readiness to have the issue debated on the floor of the House.

Mr. Azad said the Opposition had made its point on the issue and now it was time for Parliament to get down to work. "It will hurt them more if there is no debate in the House. They will lose an opportunity to corner the Government."

Never in the past had the Opposition boycotted the railway and the general budget, he said and urged the National Democratic Alliance to draw from its experience in the Government to appreciate the compulsions of running a coalition.

Mr. Azad said the budget session starting on July 5 was scheduled to conclude on September 3.The general budget for 2004-05 would be presented at 11.00 a.m. on July 8 and there would be no question hour that day. The railway budget was slated for noon after question hour on July 6. The economic survey would also be presented at noon the next day.

The budget session will have a total of 30 sittings — 15 sittings in the first part of the session from July 5 to 23 and 15 in the second part. Both Houses of Parliament will adjourn for a three-week recess from July 23 and reassemble on August 16.

The session will be devoted to discussing the two budgets and related demands for grants and Appropriation Bills. As many as 38 Bills are likely to be introduced during the session. Among the non-legislative issues that would come up for discussion are the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-07) and the National Plan of Action for Children 2003.

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