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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 8
Extension of the sitting of the Rajya Sabha by a day remained a sore point between Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and members of the Opposition who protested his decision to convene the House on Wednesday. The House was scheduled to adjourn today.
Naidu remained in the eye of storm after the Opposition felt the move by the Chairman invoking his power to decide on the extension of the winter session was not proper. After repeated stalling when the House adjourned for the day, some members from the Opposition were seen staging a sit-in, inside the House holding mock discussion. They later walked out taking the protest to the Gandhi Statute in Parliament.
Sources said the Chairman discussed the extension in the Business Advisory Committee and held another round with leaders of 15 parties in the Opposition after the government requested for an extension. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel cited precedents of 2011 and 2013, when the House was extended towards the near end of the session.
Sources said some Opposition members were against extension as they had prior commitments in their respective states and noted the atmosphere in the House was not conducive to transact business. However, the decision was left to the Chairman.
Naidu then discussed the extension with Leader of the House Arun Jaitley, who asserted it was the prerogative of the government to call, advance, and extend the session of Parliament. Jaitley also said it was not fair for the Opposition to dictate terms with regard to the schedule of the session on the ground of prior commitments and expressed concern over important business yet to be taken up by the Rajya Sabha.