The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday functioned smoothly on the first day of Monsoon Session apart from a brief adjournment when TDP members raised demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu thanked all the members for good beginning as the Budget Session was marred by repeated disruptions and adjournments on various issues.
The day began with oath taking ceremony of seven new members including four of the nominated category. It was followed by obituary references of ex-MPs who passed away in the intervening period between Budget Session and the Monsoon Session. The House then took up Zero Hour where the TDP members demanded immediate discussion on Andhra Pradesh issue. Naidu said he had allowed a detailed discussion but the agitating members did not relent forcing a 20 minute adjournment. The proceedings during the Question Hour and later after lunch went off smoothly.
The Chairman complimented leaders of various parties as the Upper House transacted full Question Hour after a long time on the first day of Monsoon Session. He conveyed this in a meeting with leaders soon after the House was adjourned for lunch. Naidu hoped this positive momentum will continue throughout the Session period.
During the last two Sessions i.e. the Winter Session of last year and the Budget Session of this year, Rajya Sabha had a total of 43 sittings but the Upper House could take up Question Hour only on six days. During this year’s Budget Session, the House could take up Question Hour only on one day out of the total 30 sittings. During the Winter Session last year, Question Hour was taken up only on five days out of the total 13 sittings.
Meanwhile, during the post lunch Session, the House approved two Bills including the State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill and The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill.
Indications of a productive Monsoon Session further brightened with the Opposition leaders and the Government agreeing on a detailed discussion on the persistent demand of TDP for proper implementation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and the promises made to the State. The discussion on this issue is likely to take place in the Rajya Sabha next week.
This was agreed upon at a meeting convened by Naidu with all sections of the House soon after he adjourned the House for lunch. In yet another positive indication, all sections of the House agreed to take up nine Bills proposed by the Government.
Earlier in the day, the Chairman held a meeting with all the six Panel Chairpersons of the Rajya Sabha and urged them to share the work load of presiding officer over the House till a Deputy Chairperson is elected. He urged them to plan their day so as to be available to chair the proceedings as per the roster.
All the Panel Chairpersons including Satyanarayan Jatia (BJP), Bhubaneshwar Kalita(Congress), Sukhendu Sekhar Ray (TMC), Tiruchi Siva(DMK),TK Rangarajan (CPM) and Kahkashan Parveen (JDU) attended the meeting.
During Question Hour, Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the House there is no dilution of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and no institution or individual can take away rights of the marginalised given under the Constitution. Fielding questions on alleged atrocities against SC and ST, he also said the Government has already taken steps for ensuring rights of SC/STs by amending the relevant law. The issue was raised by Shamsher Singh Dullo(Congress) and D Raja(CPI).
The Government also informed the House that it will come out with unemployment data from 2016 in the next two months and asserted that various schemes are being implemented with an aim to create more jobs. Job opportunities have not come down in the country and even global data shows that unemployment rate in India is lower, Minister of labour and Employment Santosh Kumar Gangwar said during the Question Hour.