The government faced flak in the Lok Sabha on Friday when Railway Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda and the Minister of State Manoj Sinha failed to turn up on time for a discussion on the Railway Budget.
Though the Chair refused to entertain the Opposition’s demand for an adjournment of proceedings till the Ministers arrived, the discussion resumed only after Mr. Gowda turned up 15 minutes later and apologised.
Opening the discussion, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress), drew the attention of the Chair to the Minister’s absence from the House. K.V. Thomas — who was in the Chair – said a Cabinet Minister was present and the discussion could continue as scheduled since “tradition and custom’’ allowed this.
The Opposition did not relent even after Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman assured the House that the Minister would “come in a minute.’’ Soon, Mr. Sinha arrived and apologised but this did not satisfy the Opposition members who continued to complain. The discussion resumed after Mr. Gowda hurried in soon afterwards.
