The Hindu : National : Houses adjourn sine die

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 24, 2006

National

National

Houses adjourn sine die

Special Correspondent

11 Bills passed in this session: Dasmunsi

NEW DELHI: Both Houses of Parliament adjourned sine die on Tuesday after a short 10-day session. While the Rajya Sabha adjourned as per schedule, frequent disruptions in the Lok Sabha by the Bharatiya Janata Party saw the House adjourning in the afternoon itself.

Later briefing media persons about the post-recess Budget session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi countered the BJP charge of the Government bulldozing Parliament and not giving the Opposition a say. "So much say was never allowed to the Opposition during the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance rule."

The Minister said in the six-year rule of the NDA between 1998 and 2004, five adjournment motions were admitted. On the other hand, in the two years the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance has been in charge, four adjournment motions have already been allowed, he said.

Also, Mr. Dasmunsi said there was no merit in the allegation that this was the shortest session ever. He said the Budget session in 2001 during the NDA regime was 31 days long whereas it lasted all of 35 days this year.

As many as 11 Bills — including the Parliament (Prevention and Disqualification) Amendment Bill, 2006, to address the office-of-profit issue, the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill, 2006, to put a one-year moratorium on demolitions in the capital and the Constitution (105th Amendment) Bill, 2006 — were passed by both Houses this session.

According to the Minister, five more laws could have been passed by Parliament had the Opposition allowed the Lok Sabha to function for the day.

Ten Bills were introduced — eight in the Lok Sabha and two in the Rajya Sabha this session.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail