Session ends early amid uproar over Tawang clash
New Delhi, December 23
The winter session of Parliament adjourned sine die a week ahead of its schedule, with Opposition members forcing repeated adjournments in the final days over their demand for a discussion on the China border issue.
According to the data compiled by legislative think tank PRS, this was the eighth consecutive session to be cut short. The session began on December 7 and was scheduled to end on December 29. But members requested the government and the presiding officers of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha to end the proceedings early citing the festive season and New Year celebrations.
In the Lok Sabha, while delivering his valedictory address, Speaker Om Birla said the productivity of the House was 97 per cent during the 13 sittings, which saw passage of seven Bills, including the supplementary demands for grants, Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill and four Bills relating to the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment).
In both Houses, Opposition members pressed for a discussion on the Tawang clash and the border issue with China, which was turned down by presiding officers. Taking a dim view of the loss of time (one hour and 46 minutes) in the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said, “Disruption as an expression mechanism is antithetical to grace, decorum and sublimity of this solemn platform. The fallout is invariably negative as it generates disillusionment, disappointment, helplessness and hopelessness in people.”
