Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die on Friday, as a tumultuous Budget session ended amid repeated disruptions.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die soon after it met at 11 a.m. on Friday, marking the end of a session in which 127 hours of work were lost to protests over varied issues. The Rajya Sabha saw 120 working hours being wasted. The Lower House could practically transact no business after noon in the second half of the session for days on end, with AIADMK members protesting in the Well for the constitution of a Cauvery Water Management Board.
Even no-confidence notices moved by members from the Telugu Desam Party, YSR Congress Party, the Congress, the CPI(M) and others could not be taken up, as the House was not in order.
Amid protests in the Well, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan requested members to return to their seats, saying that she was going to adjourn the House sine die as she could not take up the no-confidence notices in the absence of order. She then read out a short summary of the session, which was the 14th session of the 16th Lok Sabha.
The House discussed the motion of thanks on the President’s address and the Union budget, she said.
Bills passed
In the second half of the session after the post-budget recess, the demands for grants were made and the Appropriation Bill and Finance Bill were passed. Five Bills were passed, the Speaker said, including the Finance Bill and amendments to the Gratuity and Specific Relief Bills.
Just 0.6 questions were answered orally per day amid the din. Ministers made 43 statements on important issues, Ms. Mahajan added.
Underlining that 127 hours and 45 minutes were lost to disruptions, the Speaker said that the House is a “pure” forum to raise issues and while she understood members’ concerns, they should look at the country’s overall interest too.
She thanked MPs across parties for the support she got from them in organising the National Legislative Conference that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was present in the House. She said she was happy that whenever important issues of national importance came up, the fraternity of legislative bodies came to the fore. After this members stood up for Vande Mataram. Once this was over, Ms. Mahajan adjourned the House even as some Opposition members asked about the no-trust notices.
The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned sine die, bringing to an end the Budget session that was marked by continuous disruptions. Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed anguish over disruptions and also display of placards, flags and sloganeering.
Passing one Bill related to payment of gratuity and farewell to retiring members was all that the House could do. Before adjourning the House, Mr. Naidu said it was beyond his comprehension why it did not debate important issues despite the Chair’s approval for debates and asked members to introspect.
(With PTI inputs)
