The Rajya Sabha set a record of sorts on Tuesday by taking up all the listed business in the pre-lunch session including Zero Hour, Special Mentions and Question Hour, the first time in the last 15 years.
While lauding the Elders from all parties for the accomplishment, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, however, lamented the fact that six of the 15 questions could not be taken up as the MPs supposed to ask them were absent. The Chair urged the members to take this responsibility seriously.
As soon as the Zero Hour and Special Mentions ended before the Question Hour, Naidu said a record was set as all the issues mentioned in the proceedings were taken up adding “I can only operate with your co-operation.”
“The Rajya Sabha today made history. For the first time, all Zero Hour submissions, all Special Mentions were fully completed,” said Naidu. His observation comes in the backdrop of the ongoing winter session starting on December 15 on a stormy note with no business conducted for some days due to frequent disruptions. Moreover, the record on Tuesday came about after 15 years with at least 18 members speaking on issues of public importance during Zero Hour.
During the Question Hour, six questions in the last end of the list were not taken up as the MPs concerned were not present though Naidu called out the questions as per the norm. He then quipped that “something special is happening” in apparent reference to missing MPs. Naidu then urged the members to be present.
“They have the liberty. I don’t question them. At the same time, we have a responsibility. If you file a question, so much time, energy and resources are spent. Not coming to the House is not a good practice. Keep that in mind,” he said. As many as 11 members were allowed to speak on issues of public importance during Zero Hour, while another eight were allowed to read out the text of their special mentions.