New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday criticised the Opposition over repeated disruptions during the Monsoon Session, saying Parliament passed 12 Bills but the government was not satisfied with the quality of debate.
The Monsoon Session ended on Thursday with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha being adjourned sine die amid continued protests and sloganeering by Opposition MPs. Rijiju said the Opposition repeatedly avoided meaningful discussions, particularly in the Lok Sabha.
According to Rijiju, 11 Bills were passed in the Lok Sabha without discussion, while only one Bill went through a debate. He said the situation was different in the Rajya Sabha, where a Bill was discussed in detail, although Congress and some other Opposition members walked out.
Rijiju accused Congress MPs of reducing their role in Parliament to raising slogans, displaying placards and creating disruptions instead of participating in debates. He said this was unhealthy for parliamentary democracy and expressed hope that the Opposition would reflect on its conduct before the Winter Session.
“The Opposition seeks answers from the government, and the government is bound to provide them,” Rijiju said, arguing that MPs should remain in the House to hear the government's response rather than prevent discussions from taking place.
The minister also expressed concern that newly elected Opposition MPs were losing opportunities to learn parliamentary procedures and contribute to debates because of the repeated disruptions.
The session witnessed sharp confrontations between the ruling BJP and Opposition parties on several issues. Members of both sides also staged competing protests at the Makar Dwar steps of the Parliament complex.
Rijiju's criticism came shortly after the Houses were adjourned for the session. The Opposition, meanwhile, has accused the government of refusing to properly address issues it wanted to raise and has blamed the ruling side for the lack of meaningful debate.
The Monsoon Session therefore ended with both sides trading blame over the functioning of Parliament, with the government highlighting the 12 Bills passed and the Opposition focusing on what it described as the Centre's failure to allow adequate discussion.
