Consensus over Constitution debate as parties end logjam

In a bid to end the weeklong stalemate in Parliament with proceedings washed out for the sixth consecutive sitting on Monday, the government today agreed to the Opposition demand to have a debate on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution in both Houses.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said all floor leaders met in the office of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today and decided to resume proceedings smoothly from Tuesday when the first Bill will be tabled and passed.

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Rijiju said the government had agreed to the Opposition demand for a debate on the Constitution of India. The debate will be held in the Lok Sabha on December 13 and 14 and in the Rajya Sabha on December 16 and 17.

“All party floor leaders met Birla today regarding the Parliament stalemate,” Rijiju said after the meeting. “Everyone expressed concern over the continued logjam. We emphasised that elected MPs should use Parliament to express their views rather than disrupt proceedings for days, wasting taxpayers’ money. This is not good for the country,” he added.

He said the Lok Sabha will sit on December 13 and 14 to debate the Constitution and RS on December 16 and 17.

Rijiju said the Speaker also conveyed to leaders that anyone wanting to raise anything has to give a notice and disruption was not the way forward.

“I urge all Opposition leaders to honour the agreement we have reached to run Parliament. The country wants to see how MPs work. We have agreed to run Parliament smoothly from tomorrow. We appeal to all to use the remainder of the session well,” Rijiju said.

Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh said Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had written to the Speaker on November 26 requesting for a special two-day discussion on the Constitution and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha had written a similar letter to the Chairman on that day.

“Six days later, this request has been accepted by the Modi government and the dates for the discussion have been announced as requested by the Indian National Congress and other INDIA parties. Hopefully now, the Modi government will allow both Houses to function from tomorrow,” Ramesh said.