Naidu ‘deeply distressed’ by behaviour of some MPs

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 27

With members of the Opposition of Rajya Sabha taking up the issue in regard to passage of Bills, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu today expressed his distress over the behaviour of some sections in the House during the past two years.

“I am deeply distressed by the behaviour of some sections in the Rajya Sabha in the last two years as the presiding officer of the Upper House. Parliament functions as per rules, conventions, earlier rulings of the Chair and the code of conduct prescribed for members,” Naidu said at an event in Mumbai.

While sources in the Council of States maintained that during last two years at least eight of the 10 Bills introduced by the government in the House were referred to committees, reference to the procedure of the other House cannot be cited. The Rajya Sabha process is for referrals only when Bills are moved in the House first and not Bills taken up after passage by the Lok Sabha.

Expressing pain over members who chose to disregard rules in the House, Naidu said Rajya Sabha MPs, have special responsibility cast on them of leading by example since it is referred to the House of Elders.

Naidu was in Mumbai to distribute awards instituted by the Maharashtra Election Commission to 14 persons and organisations for working to improve awareness and voter participation in local bodies elections.

While the Opposition is expected to hold the government accountable, he said often elected representatives do not match democratic spirit of people through their conduct.

Some members in their wisdom have preferred to tear official papers and throw them at the Chair. Such conduct does not speak well of the functioning of our parliamentary democracy. — M Venkaiah Naidu, RS Chairman