leaders of various parties on Monday assured Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari of ensuring a normal functioning of the House but subject to certain changes in rules of proceedings.
Following Parliament’s regular disruptions ever since the Monsoon session started on August 5, Ansari convened an all-party meet to discuss possible changes in the rules for a smooth running of the House.
The leaders reportedly promised to allow legislative business during the remaining part of the Session.They also assured Ansari that Question Hour will not be disrupted and Zero Hour will be held everyday to allow members to raise issues of importance.
Unlike lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha has Zero Hour on alternate days. Sources close to the Chairman said the new system will be exercised on an experimental basis till the remaining period of the current session and in case of violations, another all-party meeting will be convened.
Ansari allowed members to raise matters of public importance during Zero Hour immediately after Question Hour. Among those present included BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), and Kanimozhi (DMK).
The issue of Ansari’s “anarchist” remarks also came up and the parties left it to the Chairman to consider the Opposition’s demand for withdrawal of his comments, which had drawn flak from members.