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RS members concerned over reduction in Parliament session

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today dismissed fears that his government had any plans to change the Constitution or had any intention to curtail the number of sittings of Parliament.

Vajpayee was responding to Opposition members' criticism in the Rajya Sabha that Parliament would be meeting only for 60 days this year as against normal 100 to 120 days, and apprehensions that the government wanted to make drastic changes in the Constitution through its proposal for a review committee.

The prime minister said there was no question of a review of the Constitution as such, but only of certain aspects to make the democratic system more stable.

Vajpayee offered to extend the winter session beyond Christmas if the members so desired. He even went a step further by stating he was willing to hold Parliament sessions on Saturdays as well.

A practical difficulty encountered by the government was that the standing committees inordinately delayed clearing the bills which led to Parliament having less business, he said.

Earlier, Vajpayee said the reduction in the number of Parliament's sittings was due to circumstances, including the general election and the recent assembly election.

In the same breath, he said since there would be no more elections, Parliament could get down to business, provoking laughter across the House.

Vajpayee said his government held Parliament in high esteem as it was the highest representative body of the people.

Before Vajpayee spoke, leader of the House Sikander Bakht told the members that the government shared their concern over loss of Parliament days and said the suggestions made by members would be implemented.

He assured the members that there was no move to change the Constitution.

Earlier, Rajya Sabha Chairman Krishna Kant told the members that the general purpose committee of the House was meeting tomorrow and the suggestions made by members would be placed before it.

Cutting across party lines, members today expressed great concern over gradual curtailment of the duration of the Parliament session since quite some time and said this amounted to sidelining this august house.

Raising the issue in a special mention, Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI-M) said earlier, Parliament used to sit for 100 to 120 days and today this has been reduced by nearly half. He said the situation has come to such a pass that as on date, 35 government bills were pending.

The CPI-M member said Parliament was meant for building a national consensus on vital issues but this forum today was deliberately not being allowed to be effective. He said the Union Cabinet and the executive were usurping the powers of the members since there was also a lacunae in the Constitution.

Dasgupta said the situation appeared to be all the more alarming as the government has also been talking about a presidential form of government.

UNI

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