The Government on Thursday rejected criticism by a Rajya Sabha MP of the Congress that it does not have sufficient business with it to keep the Parliament session going till August 14.
“We have enough work to keep you busy. The Government’s hands are full with business,” Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar told Congress member Satyavrat Chaturvedi in Rajya Sabha after the latter taunted the Government for having no legislative business with it ready. “It is unfortunate that so far this Government has been able to bring only one bill pertaining to the National Institute of Design and two Ordinances have been discussed.
So many days have passed but this Government has no legislative business to bring here…. So many bills are pending in this House from the previous session. At least 35-38 bills are pending from our term but there is no discussion on them. What is this Government doingIJ It is not able to take decisions in Cabinet. I have heard that they are going to adjourn the House sine die,” Chaturvedi said just as Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien announced for a discussion on General Budget.
Even as Kurien tried to pacify him saying that’s not for the member to worry, Chaturvedi rubbed in more salt saying he has heard that the government is postponing the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China as it could not complete its preparations. He sought to know details of legislative business and their timeframe.
However, Chaturvedi got a sharp reaction from Javadekar: “I have never seen such an example of political desperation. Today, we have the Budget and then the Finance Bill. Then there will be discussion on three ministries but before than other legislative business will also come before you,” Javdekar said.