New Delhi: A stormy and chaotic monsoon session of Parliament ended unproductive on Thursday.
The Narendra Modi government failed to push through the crucial Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST) and other such bills as opposition didn’t allow work over the demands of MEA Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje and MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan over Lalit Modi row and Vyapam scam.
Lawmakers of the ruling BJP and its allies will take out what they call a “Save Democracy” march against opposition protests that have led to a wasted session.
The Upper House was adjourned since die at noon after it bade farewell to P Kannan (Cong) and nominated members Ashok Ganguly and H K Dua who complete their six years terms in October and November – the intervening period between Monsoon and the Winter Sessions.
Rajya Sabha was adjourned for half an hour till noon after Ganguly and Dua made farewell speeches and the listed papers were laid on the table, as the House completed its limited agenda.
When it reassembled at noon, the House was adjourned sine die by Chairman Hamid Ansari.
Unrelenting opposition protests have blocked legislative business for much of this 18-day session. Each minute of Parliament costs around Rs. 20,000; Rs. 35 crore of the taxpayer’s money is estimated to have been lost.
Earlier as the House met for the day, Ansari mentioned that Kannan, who represented Puducherry, will retire on October 6 while nominated members Ganguly and Dua will complete their six year term on November 17.
The trio, he said, had contributed significantly to the deliberations of the House with their active participation.
“They have definitely enhanced dignity and prestige of this House,” he said adding that Rajya Sabha will cherish their association.
In his farewell speech, Dua said he had seen ups and downs in his six year tenure with his participation in debates on price rise, nuclear liability bill and Maoist violence being the high points, but an instance of tearing of bills was a sad moment.
He said disturbances and disruptions, first during the UPA rule and now under NDA government, “bring bad name to Parliament.”
Observing that cynicism was developing among the people, he said “Government has to be more responsive to Opposition and the Opposition has to be more responsible. … What is needed is not acrimony… what is missing is tolerance and listening capacity.”
“Tolerance level is low. Dissent is not acceptable to anyone”, Dua said, adding that the need of the hour was evolving consensus on wider national policies like terrorism and nuclear programme.
“There is a need for consensus on running of Parliament,” he said adding the government and Opposition need to sit together to draw out “how to run House better.”
In his speech, Ganguly thanked members for warm friendship and embracing him as one of them and said “unfailing bonhomie in the Central Hall (of Parliament) cutting across party lines is most reassuring feature of our unity among diversity.” he said.