National   

Tumult marks end of monsoon session of Parliament

NEW DELHI: Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were disrupted on Monday with the Opposition sticking to its demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on the nuclear deal with the United States.

While Parliament adjourned sine die late afternoon — four days ahead of schedule — the government steered its business through slogan-shouting and frequent adjournments.

In both Houses, the government made last minute changes in the business: The Unorganised Sector Workers’ Social Security Bill, 2007, which was not listed in the business for the day, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha, and the Carriage by Road Bill, 2007 was brought in at the last minute in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passage.

The Left parties opposed the introduction of the Social Security Bill in its present form.

They demanded separate legislation for the agricultural and non-agricultural workers as recommended by the Arjun Sengupta Commission on Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector.

As soon as Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes introduced the Bill, the Left members were on their feet. Tapan Kumar Sen (CPI-M) read out his protest but nothing could be heard in the din.

“This is the worst kind of tokenism. They want to introduce the Bill because it was promised in the Common Minimum Programme,” CPI(M) member Brinda Karat told journalists.

Besides, the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2006, was passed by the Lok Sabha without discussion amid protest from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

And the Rajya Sabha also passed the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition and Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill, 2007, and the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2007 the same way.

Question hour could not be taken up in either House as the presiding officers adjourned proceedings within minutes in the morning. When the two Houses met after question hour, the Chair went ahead with the day’s business as the Opposition members kept up their demand for a JPC.

While the NDA was alone in pressing for a JPC in the Lok Sabha, it was joined by the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the Rajya Sabha.

The Samajwadi Party and Telugu Desam Party members did not join the NDA in both Houses; in fact, their members sat through the din.

After rushing through the business listed for the pre-noon session, the presiding officers of both Houses adjourned the proceedings till 4 p.m. when the Lok Sabha was scheduled to take up the nuclear deal for discussion.

However, it could not be taken up as the Opposition drowned the effort of C.K. Chandrappan (CPI) to initiate a discussion, resulting in the penultimate adjournment of the day for an hour.

When the Rajya Sabha met post-lunch, it bade farewell to Secretary-General Yogendra Narain after which the House adjourned sine die. The Lok Sabha followed suit half-an-hour-later.

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

Stories in this Section

Vital issues not discussed, says Pranab
Tumult marks end of monsoon session of Parliament
Emigration Act to be amended
‘Ramar Sethu’ not man made: Centre
AIADMK also demands JPC
Karat calls for nation-wide campaign
Vaghela, Vilasrao comments draw Vidharbha farmers’ ire
CRPF vehicle attacked
Maiden military exercise in Russia from today
A centre that listens, and saves lives
I am Sitaram myself: Yechury
INSAT-4CR antennas successfully deployed
2 SRP jawans shot dead, colleague held
Their internal matter, says Pranab
Uma Khurana gets bail
Irate women ransack belt-shops, seize liquor
Assam flood situation critical
“Centre not serious about groundwater conservation”
‘Desecration’ sparks tension
Virk shifted to PGI

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu