The Monsoon session of Parliament, that witnessed suspension of 27 MPs, controversy over the "Rashtrapatni" remark, summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to Opposition leaders and weeks of disruptions over price rise and unemployment, was adjourned sine die on Monday, four days ahead of schedule.
While the Monsson was schedule to be in session until August 12, it had two working as two days were marked as holidays on account of Muharram and Raksha Bandhan.
The Lok Sabha saw a total of 16 sittings that lasted for 44 hours and 29 minutes wheile Rajya Sabha met for 38 hours with as many as 47 hours lost due to disruptions, an issue flagged by outgoing Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.
Rajya Sabha also bid farewell to Vice President Naidu, whose tenure ends on August 10. During the next session, Rajya Sabha proceedings would be chaired by Vice President elect Jagdeep Dhankar, who will take over on August 11.
The Monsoon session also witnessed President DropuadiMurmu taking oath of office in the historic Central Hall of Parliament and bif farewell to Ram Nath Kovind.
Presiding the Rajya Sabha for the last time as Chairman, Mr Naidu said the House that commenced on July 18 could conduct business for more than 38 hours and more hours were lost due to disruptions in as many as 16 sittings. Five government bills were discussed and passed.
“It is a sad reflection and the session was characterised by regular and continued interruptions depriving the members of an opportunity to discuss matters of urgent public importance and seek accountability from the executive,” Mr. Naidu said.
Also read: Parliament Monsoon Session updates | August 8, 2022
He said 25 matters could be raised during the Zero Hour and only 60 special mentions were taken.
“The session was characterised by regular and continuous disruptions which deprived members of the opportunity to discuss matters of urgent public importance and seek accountability of the executives through questions," he noted.
Since the start of the session, proceedings were disrupted as Opposition’s demand for an immediate discussion on issues like price rise and GST and later over the suspension of 23 Rajya Sabha members and four members of Lok Sabha.
The session not only witnessed acriomony over Congress Leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury referring to President Murmu as 'Rashtrapatni' but reached a flash point when Union Minister Smriti Irani and Congress President Sonia Gandhi faced-off in the Lok Sabha during an adjournment break.
A post-adjournment chat between Ms Gandhi and senior BJP MP Rama Devi turned ugly after Ms Irani intervened in the conversation and was seen gesturing at the Congress chief.
Adjourning the Lok Sabha sine die, Speaker Om Birla informed that during this session, a total number of 16 sittings were held, lasting 44 hours and 29 minutes. The Lok Sabha passed seven bills in the Monsoon session, informed Mr Birla.
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien hit out at the government for cutting short the Monsoon session. "This is the seventh consecutive time the parliament session has been cut short.
"Stop mocking #Parliament. We will fight for its sanctity and prevent PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah from turning this great institution into the Gujarat Gymkhana,"Mr O'Brien tweeted.
Government sources, however, contended that the members of various parties were in favour of the earlier conclusion of the session as they wanted to visit their constituencies due to upcoming festivals.
