Rajya Sabha Adjourned Sine Die; Chairman Criticises Opposition Disruptions
Winter Session concludes with sharp rebuke over unruly protests.
Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan adjourned the House sine die on Friday, delivering a stern condemnation of the Opposition's disruptive tactics during the passage of a significant rural employment bill. He pointedly described the behavior—including shouting slogans, waving placards, interrupting the replying Minister, and tearing up papers before throwing them into the well of the House—as conduct entirely unbecoming of Members of Parliament. Urging introspection, Radhakrishnan expressed hope that such unruly actions would not be repeated, stressing the importance of upholding parliamentary decorum for the effective functioning of democracy.
The focal point of the protests was the newly passed Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission - Rural (G RAM G) bill, which replaces the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The legislation enhances livelihood security by increasing guaranteed unskilled manual workdays from 100 to 125 per rural household annually. Opposition members strongly objected to the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme's title, viewing it as an erasure of historical legacy. The bill was eventually cleared late Thursday night after the House extended its sitting beyond midnight amid persistent disruptions.
Despite these interruptions, Radhakrishnan characterized the 269th Session as remarkably productive, achieving 121 per cent productivity over 15 days and approximately 92 hours of sittings. The House demonstrated dedication by extending hours and forgoing lunch recesses on several occasions to complete pending business. Key accomplishments included passing or returning eight bills, adopting a statutory resolution on the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 with participation from 212 members, and introducing 59 Private Members' Bills, highlighting the dynamic nature of parliamentary engagement.
Also Read: UP Assembly to Discuss Vande Mataram Anniversary, Present Supplementary Budget
The session also featured substantive discussions on national themes, such as a two-day special debate commemorating the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram with 82 members contributing, and a three-day deliberation on electoral reforms involving 57 participants. Zero Hour submissions saw a notable surge, with daily notices averaging over 84—a 31 per cent increase—and more than 15 matters raised each day. Additionally, 58 starred questions were answered, complemented by 208 Zero Hour mentions and 87 special mentions, alongside a detailed ruling from the Chair on the scope of Rule 267.
Marking his inaugural session as Chairman, Radhakrishnan expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the House J P Nadda, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, and other stakeholders for their cooperation and support. He acknowledged the collective effort that enabled significant legislative progress and concluded on an optimistic note, looking forward to continued constructive participation in future sessions.
Also Read: RJD Leader Absent for Majority of Winter Session, NDA Questions Accountability and Travel
