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Parliament adjourned sine die

Special Correspondent

Lok Sabha loses 21 hours in interruptions, adjournments

NEW DELHI: The second part of the 14th session of the 14th Lok Sabha that ended on Tuesday witnessed a loss of nearly 21 hours in interruptions and adjournments. But it adopted a resolution unanimously condemning the heinous attack in Mumbai by terrorist elements from Pakistan.

In his valedictory reference before the House was adjourned sine die, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee recalled that during the first part of the session that began on July 21, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh moved the motion of confidence in his Council of Ministers. After a 15-hour debate, the motion was adopted by 275 ‘Ayes’ to 256 ‘Noes’.

During the session, 31 Bills were passed. As many as 360 starred questions were admitted and 191 zero-hour submissions made.

“Difficult year”

In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman M. Hamid Ansari said 2008 had been a difficult year. “The nation has faced unprecedented and heinous terrorist attacks. We also face serious economic crises globally and nationally. 2008 would also go down in our Parliamentary history as the year when the House had the lowest number of annual sittings — a mere 46 for the calendar year,” he said at the conclusion of the 214th session of the Rajya Sabha which was adjourned sine die.

Mr. Ansari thanked the members for supporting his new initiatives for the conduct of the proceedings, particularly the three-minute rule for the zero hour.

During the two-part session, the House held 16 sittings, where 10 hours were lost in disruptions over various issues, particularly price rise and terror attacks.

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