Monsoon session gets off to stormy start
Subject to exigencies of government business, the Monsoon Session will conclude on August 12. The morning session of the Lok Sabha was adjourned to allow members to vote in the presidential election even as opposition members tried to raise some issues
image for illustrative purpose
New Delhi: The Monsoon session of Parliament got off to a stormy start on Monday leading to adjournment of the two Houses without transacting much business following opposition uproar over issues ranging from price rise to the Agnipath scheme. The uproar broke out even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged MPs before the start of the parliamentary proceedings to make the session as productive as possible and called for debate, criticism and analysis for positive contribution to policies and decisions.
In a lighter vein, he remarked that in Delhi rains have begun, but the heat outside is not reducing and wondered whether the heat will come down inside Parliament. Presiding over his last session as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, M Venkaiah Naidu also urged MPs to be "different and better" than they were in the last five years when 57 per cent of House sittings were partly or fully disrupted. Naidu's five-year term as Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman ends on August 10.
Speaking to reporters, Modi said Parliament functions and takes best decisions with everyone's 'prayaas' (efforts) and urged parliamentarians to make full use of this session in national interest. "We always consider the House an efficient medium of dialogue, a pilgrimage place. Where there is dialogue with an open mind, there are fierce debates if needed, there is also criticism and by very good analysis of things a very positive contribution can be made to policies and decisions," the prime minister added.
He urged all MPs to undertake deep thinking and discussion, and make the House as productive and fruitful as possible. "For that everyone's contribution is needed. Democracy functions with everyone's 'prayaas' (efforts), House functions with everyone's 'prayaas', House takes the best decisions with everyone's 'prayaas'. And therefore, to enhance the dignity of the House, while fulfilling our duties, we should make the most of this session in national interest," Modi said.
Subject to exigencies of government business, the Monsoon Session will conclude on August 12. The morning session of the Lok Sabha was adjourned to allow members to vote in the presidential election even as opposition members tried to raise some issues. In the Rajya Sabha, slogan-shouting Congress members trooped to the Well of the House raising issues relating to price rise and GST as soon as Naidu read out the obituary references.
"As some people have come determined not to allow the House to function and also enable members to go and vote in the Presidential election, I am adjourning the House for the day," Naidu said. In the Lok Sabha, three newly-elected members -- Bollywood actor and Trinamool Congress' Shatrughan Sinha (Asansol, West Bengal) and two BJP members from Uttar Pradesh Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua (Azamgarh) and Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi (Rampur) - took their oath.
As opposition members raised slogans, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said elections in India are celebrated as a "festival" and since the Presidential polls was underway, it should also be celebrated. The Speaker said members should participate in the "festival" and adjourned the House till 2 pm.
