The abrupt manner in which the Government adjourned Parliament sine die has baffled one and all. In fact, after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi claimed in the lok Sabha that a series of Bill has been lined up for the Winter Session, the Congress MPs were expecting that session may be extended. But then came the shock announcement by Speaker Meira Kumar.
The Speaker made the surprise announcement soon after completion of a debate on the harassment of an Indian diplomat by US authorities in New York. Speaking on the lokpal Bill, Rahul insisted for debate and passage of six crucial Bills by extending the Session. “Madam Speaker, I believe it is our responsibility to complete our unfinished work in our fight against corruption. I believe it is the responsibility of the 15th lok Sabha to consider and enact all six pending anti-corruption Bills before its term expires. I would like to name these six Bills…
“These are all the Bills that we can pass. If necessary, Madam Speaker, can we not extend this Session of Parliament to complete the passage of these Bills and provide this country with the framework to fight corruptionIJ This is not about one Bill; this is about the framework and we would like to deliver that framework to the country,” said Rahul mooting for extension of the Session.
Soon after Rahul’s speech there were reports and talks in the corridors of Parliament that the Session may extend to pass the Bills mentioned by Rahul.
Congress leaders were tightlipped about this curious turn of events… When the queries from media started creating reports about the lack of coordination between the floor managers of Government and Congress, Parliamentray Affairs Minister Kamal Nath came out with an explanation that the House was not prorogued and as it was only sine die, it can be convened again with short notice.
However, Nath did not mention Government’s intention to re-convene the Session. He also did not take the queries on Rahul’s intention to pass the six Bills. As per the conventions, as the elections to the lok Sabha are due on April-May, Parliament is expected to convene in the last weeks of February for few days to pass the Vote on Accounts.