M Venkaiah Naidu unhappy with absentee ministers

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 17

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu today adjourned the proceedings of House for the day soon after laying of paper, while asking the government and Opposition to arrive at a consensus over the issue of suspension of members.

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He expressed displeasure on ministers being absent from the House even though papers were listed against their names and asked the government to take note.

Rebuking the absentee Ministers who had to lay papers on the table, Naidu warned them that such things would not be allowed in future. “The Ministers who are supposed to lay papers on the table of the House having given notice to the Chair should not be absent from the House. In extreme circumstances if there is any problem, they must approach the Chair in advance and seek permission. Some of them are doing it while others think it is casual. It can’t be casual, it can’t be usual,” he said.

Soon after tabling of listed papers, Naidu said he had met the Leader of the House Piyush Goyal and some senior members of the Opposition and asked them to hold discussions.

“I would like to appeal to each one of you to please arrive at some sort of consensus to see that the House functions normally,” he told the members.