“I welcome all of you to this press conference of post-winter session of Parliament which has just concluded.
I know you would be very keen to know of the Government’s assessment of this important session that began when we have completed six months in office.
Six months is not a very long period but good enough time for the Government to make a clear statement of its intentions and particularly, through the forum of Parliament.
Our intention has been to do the needful to speed up economic recovery which is necessary to meet the aspirations of the people, which were amply conveyed in the last general elections.
This warranted some concrete initiatives to lay the ground for enhanced economic activity through simplification of tax regime, promoting ease of doing business, increased flow of investments etc.
On this count, we could effectively convey our intentions. Introduction of GST Bill, the Companies Amendment Bill, the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha were clear pointers of our keenness to usher in the much desired reforms.
In fact, introduction of GST Bill is the high point of our government’s initiatives and of this winter session. All of you are aware of the efforts made by our government and the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely in getting the states on board before introduction of this crucial Bill. When GST comes into being soon, this would be the most far reaching tax reform since Independence. GST is expected to increase GDP by about 2%. This would reduce corruption, and make business hassle-free.
Government can only make its best intentions known by introducing necessary legislative proposals and prioritizing the pending legislations inherited. Thereafter, it is for the Parliament to adjudicate and serve the felt needs of the country.
Two Bills related to labour reforms were cleared during this winter session. These being: The Labor Laws (Exemption from Furnishing Returns and Maintaining Registers by Certain Establishments) Amendment Bill, 2011 and The Apprentices (Amendment) Bill, 2014. (The Lok Sabha passed this Bill during the last Budget session this year.)
The Lok Sabha has also cleared important Bills during this winter session relating to proposed auctioning of coal blocks and enhancing ease of doing business.
On the whole, the Lok Sabha has passed a record 18 Bills as against 12 during the last Budget session early this year and 04 Bills during winter session last year.
On the contrary, the Rajya Sabha could clear only 12 Bills during this period. The Upper House could not take up 06 Bills that were passed by the Lower House and could have done so had the same spirit prevailed.
The major issue that emerged during the just concluded winter session is that should the two Houses of Parliament have different perspectives and priorities?
The fact of the matter being that the Government has majority in the Lok Sabha while the opposition has the numbers in the Rajya Sabha.
Why is that the Lok Sabha has been more productive while the Rajya Sabha not so productive?
Why is that the Rajya Sabha has been marred by interruptions during 16 of the 22 sittings, while only brief interruptions were witnessed during only 5 sittings of Lok Sabha during the same period?
Should the Rajya Sabha be disrupted for days on the issue of naming of an airport which was in pursuance of decisions taken earlier?
Can the majority be used to bring the House to a grinding halt negating the established Parliamentary democratic principle of collective responsibility of the Government?
So, the broader issue is how one should put to use the majority in Parliament?
It was evident that while the majority in the Lok Sabha was used constructively, the same was used to obstruct legislation in the Rajya Sabha.
It may be true that the responsibility of enabling smooth functioning of Parliament mostly rests with the Government of the day. But the opposition cannot certainly say that they have no responsibility for the same and their mandate is only to obstruct.
The stalling of parliament by the opposition which obstructed the passage of key bills in this winter session is an effort to stall this government’s development agenda and with a view to restricting the government’s choice in the next budget.
The Opposition, I hope would have realised that the battle with the government will have to be on the strength of their ideas rather than shrillness of their voices. More importantly the public has been assured by the conduct of this session that Shri Narendra Modi ji is very much the same man who they voted for when they chose him to head the Government.
Let me remind you all that during the All Party Meeting convened on November 22, I have made it clear that the Government will walk extra-mile to take on board the views and concerns of the opposition. I have no hesitation in asserting that we have walked the talk.
We have circulated at the all party meet, a list of legislations that we would like to be introduced and taken up for consideration during the winter session.
Right in the beginning an understanding was forged between the Government and the opposition that every week one Calling Attention Motion and one Short Duration Discussion will be taken up in both the Houses on issues of opposition choice.
In BAC meetings, I myself have requested the Presiding Officers that if need be, opposition members may be given time more than their due, during discussions.
When the opposition expressed concern over some observations outside the Parliament of one of my colleagues, we immediately intervened and made the concerned retract. This is a new initiative of our government.
Going further, when opposition wanted the Prime Minister to speak his mind on that matter, he did so.
Whenever required, we have reached out to the opposition to address their concerns so that Parliament can function smoothly.
At every opportunity, I have acknowledged the role of opposition in the productive Budget session early this year. In fact, I even thanked opposition in one of our BJP Parliamentary Party meetings.
You are aware of the events relating to the Insurance Bill during the last Budget session. During our discussions with opposition, the sense we were given to understand was that they would enable passing of this crucial legislation if only the Government agreed to setting up a Select Committee. We agreed to that suggestion.
Is this not enough evidence of our desire and conviction of taking opposition along? I fail to understand what more needs to be done?
During this Winter session, the Lok Sabha has passed 18 bills while the Rajya Sabha could clear only 12 Bills. The details of Bills passed, issues taken up through Calling Attention Motions and other provisions are enclosed.
On account of interruptions, the Lok Sabha has lost 3 hours 26 minutes only while the Rajya Sabha has lost 51 hours and 57 minutes.
Accordingly, the productivity of the Lok Sabha has been 105 .71% while that of the Rajya Sabha has been only 67.18 %. All concerned owe an answer to the nation for this.
With a heavy heart, I am constrained to say that the opposition has let the country down in the Rajya Sabha during this winter session. The way they have disrupted the House for almost half of the session time has no justification. It is unfortunate that the interests of the country have been held captive by their short sighted Political considerations.
I do concede the right of the opposition to effectively voice their concerns. But it may not be wise to totally obstruct legislation, which is the primary mandate of the Parliament.
I sincerely appeal to the opposition parties to seriously introspect and ensure that Parliament lives up to the expectations of the people in the times to come.
Despite differences with opposition on certain issues, there has still been some manifest commonality of purpose, for which I thank them.
I am grateful to the Presiding Officers and Panel Chairpersons of both the Houses of Parliament for their efforts in guiding the Houses through trials and tribulations.
I also thank my colleagues Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy for their support and hard work.
I also appreciate the hard work put in by the Ministry of parliamentary Affairs, its Secretary, and secretariats of both the Houses under the guidance of respective Secretary-Generals.
I am particularly, grateful to all of you present here and those not here for your sustained interest in the proceedings of winter session and for your informed reporting.
I wish you all and your families a Happy Christmas and a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year and Sankranthi (Pongal). ”
Courtesy: pib.nic.in
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