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Parliament session ends |
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The Monsoon Session of Parliament ended last week on Tuesday, August 30, after passing Bills empowering sections of society. The Prime Minister told the Lok Sabha before the House was adjourned sine die that it was an important session and in some respects, a historic session, as several legislative measures were taken to empower people, especially the weaker sections of society and to strengthen the body politic. But he regretted the inability to introduce the long awaited and much wanted Women’s Reservation Bill.
Expressing pride in the passing of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, the Prime Minister said that he was happy that the “poorest of our people have been assured an important fruit of democracy, the assurance of gainful employment.” The challenge now, he said, was how well this assurance was implemented and its benefits reached intended beneficiaries.
Referring to the Bill amending the Hindu Succession Act, he said that “a long-standing promise we had made to our sisters and daughters” had been fulfilled. “We are equally committed to the empowerment of women,” Singh said.
He expressed his appreciation to Speaker Somnath Chatterjee for his “fortitude, wisdom, and inestimable patience and transparent sincerity in trying to conduct the proceedings of this House.” Singh also placed on record his deep and sincere appreciation of the leadership provided by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had reasons to be more than satisfied for as they pointed out as many as 16 Bills were passed by both Houses and 23 were introduced, 14 in the Lok Sabha and 9 in the Rajya Sabha.
“It was a very successful monsoon session,” Azad noted, pointing out that this Government had always maintained that it was willing to discuss any issue provided rules of parliamentary procedure permitted this. The Speaker said his decision to hold daily meetings with party leaders ahead of the start of the day’s proceedings had been very useful and resulted in cooperation from all sides. “I am thankful to all sections of the House for the wonderful cooperation I have received,” he said, addressing reporters after the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die, ending the session that started on July 25.
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