The Hindu : National : Somnath announces setting up of an annual parliamentary lecture

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 25, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Somnath announces setting up of an annual parliamentary lecture

Neena Vyas

First lecture will be delivered by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen

Lecture named after outstanding parliamentarian Hiren Mukherjee
New forum on Global Warming and Climate Change

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Sunday announced the setting up of an annual Parliamentary lecture. The first in the series would be delivered by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.

The series of lectures have been named after outstanding parliamentarian Hiren Mukherjee.

He also said he had asked party leaders to name their representatives on a new Parliamentary Forum on Global Warming and Climate Change.

Separately, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said that a recent conference of whips had recommended that the number of days during which an Assembly or Parliament must remain in session every year should be made mandatory.

It was also recommended, with support from whips of different parties, that Question Hour should not be disturbed and recommendations of standing committees be made binding on governments.

Mr. Dasmunsi said that a decision on these recommendations could be taken after discussing these with party leaders.

On women’s reservation, he said sincere efforts were being made to evolve a political consensus.

The government did not wish to “make a joke” of the issue by suggesting that parties give one-third tickets to women as that would cheat women of their right to get one-third reservation.

His remarks were a criticism of the recent emphasis by the Bharatiya Janata Party that the Election Commission formula — aimed at making it mandatory for all parties to give one-third of election ticket to women candidates — be accepted.

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

National