Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die
ANDALIB AKHTER / NEW DELHI
The last session of the sixteenth Lok Sabha came to an end today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi boasting a number of achievements during his tenure.
In his last address to the Lok Sabha PM said as the country readies for the general elections, took potshots at the Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Modi said that his government had completed full five years despite threats of an ‘earthquake’ referring to Rahul Gandhi’s claim in 2016 that if he were given 15 minutes to speak on Rafale he would cause an earthquake in Parliament.
“Hum sunte the bhukamp aayega…lekin paanch saal ke karyakaal mein to koi bhukamp nahi aaya (We heard that an earthquake was on its way…but at least in our five years of governance we did not experience any earthquake),” Modi said.
He added, “Hawai jahaaz ude…bade bade logon ke udaaye…Lekin sadan ki garima itni uunchi hai ki sab kuch pacha gaya (Aeroplanes were flown…big leaders flew paper aeroplanes…but such is the honour of Parliament that it remained unblemished despite all this).”
Continuing to target Rahul Gandhi, who was not present in the Lok Sabha, where Modi was delivering his speech, the PM recounted all he learnt as the first time Parliamentarian over the last five years. “Is sadan mein pehli baar pata chala ki gale padna aur gale milne mein kya antar hai (First time I understood the difference between throwing oneself at someone and an embrace),” PM said.
This was a reference to Rahul Gandhi walking up to Modi in the Lok Sabha and embracing him, on a day when Rafale was being debated in Parliament, after delivering a passionate speech about Congress’ ideology of ‘combating hatred with love’.
The prime minister said the country has suffered a lot in the last 30 years in absence of a full majority government. He said the credit goes to 125 crore people of the country for giving full majority in 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
The Prime Minister said, India’s self-confidence is at an all-time high which is a very positive sign because such confidence gives an impetus to development.
He said when the world is discussing global warming, India made a mammoth effort in the form of the International Solar Alliance to mitigate this menace. Mr. Modi said the country will be proud of this 16th Lok Sabha, as it has the highest number of women members.
He said, it is this Lok Sabha that has passed stringent laws against corruption and black money besides the GST. He added that the GST passing in the House revealed the spirit of cooperation and bipartisanship.
Leaders of different political parties including Congress, TMC, CPI(M), TRS, LJP and others expressed their views and thanked the Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for her efforts to run the House smoothly.
Congress leader K C Venugopal lauded the Speaker for giving the chance to the opposition to express people’s sentiments. Sudip Bandyopadhyay of TMC also echoed the same views. Bhartruhari Mahtab of BJD said that Ms Mahajan’s role made the functioning of this Lok Sabha fruitful.
Mulayam Singh Yadav of Samajwadi Party praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hoped that BJP wins the upcoming Lok Sabha elections that Mr Modi returns to power again. Ram Vilas Paswan of LJP listed NDA government’s achievements and expressed confidence that NDA will again come to power.
Supriya Sule of NCP, A P Jithender Reddy of TRS, P Karunakaran of CPI(M) and other members also expressed their views and lauded Sumitra Mahajan’s work.
Before adjourning the House sine die, in her valedictory address, Ms Mahajan said, she tried to run the House with parliamentary decorum and gave opportunities to all the members, irrespective of their political affiliation to raise issues of public importance. She said, legislative measures taken during the sixteenth Lok Sabha have paved the way for realising the dream of a New India.
Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai hailed the leaders of political parties for their cooperation in smooth functioning of the House.
The Rajya Sabha has also adjourned sine die today. The Upper House witnessed repeated adjournments over several issues during the entire session. Delivering the Valedictory Address, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu expressed displeasure over House disruptions, saying the overall productivity during the session was not good.
Mr Naidu said the members should introspect over declining productivity in the House as important matters of public interest could not be taken up. He said the House failed to live up to the expectations of the people.
Earlier in the day, the Rajya Sabha witnessed two adjournments. In the morning, minutes after the House met for the day, members from Samajwadi Party and BSP tried to raise the issue of former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav being allegedly prevented from flying to Prayagraj from Lucknow Airport yesterday.
The Chairman denied permission, prompting the agitating members to come to the Well. TMC members also surged into the Well to register their protest against the government. As noisy scenes prevailed, the House was adjourned till 12 PM.
Additional input for agencies