Parliament Spotlight

New Delhi, 28 March 2018

Anxious Moments For Retiring RS Members?

New Delhi, March 27: Forty retiring members of Rajya Sabha would have had some anxious moments this morning. With their six-year term coming to an end its obvious many would have prepared a farewell speech or thoughts, while other members too would seek an opportunity to wish them well or perhaps even give kudos for their performance in the House. But it wasn’t to be. The House was abruptly adjourned for the day, leaving many in the Opposition benches surprised.

As has been the trend this past two weeks, protesting members of the AIADMK and TDP rushed into the well of the House, despite repeated pleas by the Chairman M Vekaiah Naidu to cooperate. “This is totally undemocratic, totally unbecoming of Members of Parliament. You are weakening your cause. Please, you are all members. You must uphold the dignity of the House,” he urged. But with no change, he chose to ask leaders of all parties to come to his chamber and adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

On return, the AIADMK members didn’t rush into the well, instead stood at their respective seats places and wanted that the Prime Minister to say something on the Cauvery waters. But that wasn’t allowed too. The Chair again pleaded to the members to cooperate. Besides, he put forth two proposals: One, he would take names of the members or Two, adjourn the House. The second was shot down by a big no from the members.

The AIADMK members then chose to remain silent but refused to sit down. There was silence in the House and then came the big surprise. The chair announced “House adjourned till 11 a.m on Wednesday.” And what followed was another surprise. Members of the Opposition simply sat in their seats and did not leave. Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad asked them to do so. So did some of the Treasury benches members. After about 15-20 minutes the members gradually started moving out.

Tomorrow is another day. Will the retiring members get their chance to bid farewell or have their say? ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)