Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday utilised his address during the 250th session of the Rajya Sabha to call for a disruption-free House proceedings and also, perhaps, to reach out to NCP chief Sharad Pawar just ahead of the latter’s meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi over the issue of Govt formation in Maharashtra.
"Today, I want to appreciate two parties, NCP and BJD. These parties have wonderfully adhered to parliamentary norms. They have never gone into the well of the house (to protest). Yet, they have made their points very effectively. Every political party, including my party, should learn from them," Modi said.
His remarks came just hours before Pawar was scheduled to meet Sonia in view of the Maharashtra impasse, which has brought the ideologically-opposite Shiv Sena and Congress along with the NCP on one platform to explore the possibility of forming a Govt in Maha.
While efforts are on for the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP to come together, there has been a buzz also about the BJP and the NCP exploring an alternative possibility for government formation.
As for disruptions in Rajya Sabha in the past hindering passage of crucial legislations, Modi said a distinction needs to be drawn between checking and clogging. "The Rajya Sabha is about checks and balances. This is absolutely essential for our democracy. Debates have to be many and effective. But, there is also a difference between checking and clogging (and between) balance and blocking," he said.
With some within the ruling party questioning the effectiveness of Rajya Sabha as crucial legislative work got stalled because NDA lacked majority in the House, Modi recalled the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s words that the Upper House "may be the second house but no one should think of it as a secondary house."
"Today, I echo the sentiments of Atal Ji and add that the Rajya Sabha must be a vibrant supportive House for national progress," he said, adding makers of the Constitution envisioned a bicameral legislative framework and this vision has enriched the democracy. He, however, wanted the House to function and not disrupt work."Our Constitution inspires us to work for a Welfare State. It also motivates us to work for the welfare of states. The Rajya Sabha, as the Council of States, enables us to further the spirit of cooperative federalism," he said.
He said two things about the Rajya Sabha stand out - its permanent nature and it being representative of India’s diversity.