The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday took exception to its Chairman and members being not invited for the inauguration of a building in Parliament Annexe on Monday. Associating himself with the sentiments of the Opposition, which raised the issue, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said the "impropriety" of not inviting the Chairman was already taken up with the lok Sabha Secretariat.
His remarks came after a united Opposition criticised the Government for "insulting" the Upper House by ignoring its presiding officer, who is also the Vice-President of India, for the function held on the Parliament premises.
leader of House Arun Jaitley said the management of the premises of Parliament is undertaken by the lok Sabha through committees since 1952. The BJP leader also said he had attended several such committee meetings as the Opposition leader adding the committee is presided by lok Sabha Speaker.
Raising the issue soon after the House met for the day, leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said no one should undermine or attempt to undermine the importance and stature of the Upper House.
For all official Parliament functions, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Deputy Chairman, as also lok Sabha Speaker and Deputy Speaker along with MPs are invited, he said, adding that this rule applied to all official functions in the Central Hall as well as in the premises of the Parliament House complex. He then said not inviting the Chairman for the function on Monday was an "insult" to the Rajya Sabha. Sitaram Yechury (CPM) and Naresh Agrawal (SP) also echoed similar sentiments.