On the 18th day of the Budget session, the Lok Sabha saw disruptions again, as Members trooped into the Well of the House carrying placards. The Lower House adjourned, first until 12 noon, and then till April 2, 2018.
The Rajya Sabha, on the other hand, was functioning, with farewell speeches from retiring Members. But when the House reconvened after lunch, sloganeering by Opposition Members saw the Upper House adjourned till Monday.
Here are the updates:
Rajya Sabha adjourned till Monday
House reconvenes. Anand Sharma of the Congress raises a point of order asking why their notices had not been taken up for consideration.
Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien is in the Chair. He says the Chair has taken a decision on the list of business. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel asks if Opposition does not want business conducted in the House.
But Members have already trooped into the Well with placards. Rajya Sabha is adjourned till Monday.
Arun Jaitley wishes Members
Shadi Lal Batra of the Congress rises to speak. Leader of the House Arun Jaitley speaks now.
“During our tenure, we have made efforts to contribute to our party and our House.”
House is adjourned to meet at 3.40 p.m.
D.P. Tripathi of the NCP speaks next. He asks why the Parliament shies away from discussions on the judiciary. He also says Parliament has never discussed sex in a dignified manner.
K. Rehman Khan of the Congress says he learnt of the importance of the Upper House after he came to the Rajya Sabha.
No creches in Parliament: Renuka Chowdhury
Maharashtra BJP MP Ajay Sancheti rises to make his farewell speech, followed by Rangasayee Ramakrishna, also from the BJP.
Renuka Chowdhury of the Congress makes her speech now. She says there are no creches in Parliament. “You are bringing in younger people here,” she says referring to her entry into Parliament as the mother of a three-month-old child.
Rajani Patil of the Congress speaks next.
Tapan Sen of the CPI(M) too makes his farewell speech, after 12 years in the House. Pramod Tiwari of the Congress speaks next.
Narendra Budania of the Congress speaks now.
Nominated MP Parasaran’s last speech in the House
Former Attorney General and nominated MP K. Parasaran makes his farewell speech. Independent MP A.V. Swamy speaks next.
Naresh Agrawal, who joined the BJP early this month, speaks next, as a member of the Samajwadi Party. “People call me ‘Point of Order’,” he says referring to his frequent speeches in Rajya Sabha.
Satyavrat Chaturvedi of the Congress speaks now. He says that modernisation of the armed forces and India’s defence equipment should not be a subject of debate.
Shankarbhau N. Vegad of the BJP also gives his farewell speech.
Joy Abraham of the KC(M) rises to bid farewell to the House.
Centre should solve States’ issues: Kanimozhi
T.K. Rangarajan of the CPI(M) speaks in Tamil. He says the Centre should solve the states’ issues. Y.S. Chowdary of the TDP speaks next.
Praful Patel of the NCP welcomes returning Members to the House. He makes a special mention of D.P. Tripathi, who is retiring soon. He says the NCP never resorts to sloganeering.
Kanomozhi of the DMK rises to speak. “It is not that we want to disrupt the House. Sometimes we have no choice but to come into the Well and demand justice.” She congratulates re-elected Members.
Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena speaks next, followed by Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa of the SAD.
Nominated Member Anu Aga makes her retirement speech. “We can debate, differ and disagree. But do we have the right to behave in a manner that pushes the Chair to adjourn the House? Opposition does not mean opposing everything the ruling party suggests.”
Nazir Ahmed Laway of the PDP also wishes farewell to the Members.
Lok Sabha adjourned till Monday
House reconvenes. Slogan shouting drowns even the announcement of the Speaker’s entry. Members are in the Well, holding placards.
Papers are laid on the table. Statements by Ministers are next. Speaker says she is duty bound to bring notices of no-confidence motions to the House, but cannot do so if the House is not in order. House stands adjourned till Monday, April 2, 2018.
Responsibility of smooth functioning also lies with govt: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi rises to speak in the Rajya Sabha now, to wish farewell to retiring Members. He says Rajya Sabha Members have life experiences that add value to governance. He begins mentioning retiring Members by name — K. Parasaran, Dilip Kumar Tirkey, Sachin Tendulkar and Mr. Kurien.
In his brief speech, Mr. Modi says “unfortunately,” the retiring Members will not be part of Parliament when the decision on instant triple talaq is taken.
He also says the outgoing Members must have prepared speeches on important issues so that their contribution is remembered. But they could not do so. He says the responsibility of smooth functioning lies not only with the Opposition but also with the government.
The Rajya Sabha, Mr. Modi states, is a distinguished House with eminent members serving here. He adds that the House plays a vital role in India’s democracy.
Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad speaks next. He says the farewell is temporary. “A politician never retires,” he says. He thanks the retiring Members.
Ram Gopal Yadav of the SP rises to speak. He welcomes new Members to the House. Navaneethakrishnan of the AIADMK speaks now, followed by Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool Congress. A.U. Singh Deo of the BJD is next. Harivansh of the JD(U) speaks next.
Deputy Chairman bids farewell
House reconvenes. Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu bids farewell to retiring Members.
Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien begins his farewell speech. “I came to Parliament in the 1980s. I’m aware of your moral indignation in the deterioration of Parliamentary proceedings. The highest form of protest, then, was a walkout.”
“Today, instead of walking out of the House, they are walking in to the Well. In those days, I remember how Opposition used to grill Ministers. Today, Ministers are very happy, as because of slogan shouting nothing is achieved.”
“I’m not blaming any side. We are all equally responsible. Let us come together, rack our brains and find a solution, so that the level of the Rajya Sabha is not degenerated to the extent we see today.”
Mr. Kurien reads out a Shakespeare quote. “MPs kill democracy for their politics,” he says. He asks the government and Opposition to be more responsible. “I, as Deputy Chairman enjoyed the support of every Member of the House.” He calls former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh a role model for MPs.
