Introspect What Went Wrong: Venkaiah Naidu As Parliament Session Ends Amid Protests
'I urge all of you to...reflect and introspect if this session could have been different and better', Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu said.
New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha & Lok Sabha has adjourned ahead of its scheduled end of the Winter Session of Parliament with on Wednesday, Vice president and Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu saying that the house worked “below its potential" after he listed the papers & reports.
"I urge all of you to...reflect and introspect if this session could have been different and better. I don't want to speak elaborately on the course of the session that would lead me to make a very critical view," he said.
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He said that rulings, regulations and procedures have to be followed and said precedents, decency and decorum has to be maintained by members in the House. He also called on members for "realisation of what has happened is wrong" and said that "we should all work towards a constructive and positive atmosphere for the larger interest of the country".
After which, Naidu wished MPs a Merry Christmas and a prosperous English New Year, and also conveyed his greetings for Makar Sankranti, Pongal and other upcoming festivals.
The Winter Session was a stormy one because 12 members of the Opposition were suspended because during the Monsoon Session, because of which there were many who were protesting outside the Parliament and inside as well. Aside from this, the Opposition members also protested on the Special Investigation Team's report regarding the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh and farmers' issues.
The session also saw protests over the hurried manner in which bills were passed, especially the important electoral reforms bill which asks to link the voter ID card to the Aadhaar card. The Winter Session had 18 sittings and witnessed the passage of key legislation such as the Farm Laws Repeal Bill and the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill.
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien was suspended on Tuesday from Rajya Sabha for the remaining part of the Winter Session for “unruly behaviour" in the House. The MP has been accused of throwing a Rajya Sabha rule book at the Chair. Sasmit Patra, who was in the Chair, said the TMC MP had raised a point of order and the deputy chairman duly responded to it.
Despite disruptions and loss of business hours, the Rajya Sabha passed several key bills, including those related to electoral reforms and surrogacy.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha saw the passage of nine bills which included the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill and legislation to fix the tenure of directors of the Enforcement Directorate and CBI at five years and supplementary demands for grants.
The government had introduced 12 bills during the session, including the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill that seeks to increase the marriageable age for girls from 18 years to 21 years.