Deeply disturbed by utter disregard for parliamentary procedures: Naidu

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chairman, on Friday said that he was "deeply disturbed" by the MPs "utter disregard" for parliamentary procedures and "unruly behaviour" during the session, and hoped that they would "turn a new leaf" when the House meets again after a month-long recess.

"I am saying this with a heavy heart. I must confess that I am deeply pained at the progress. I was deeply disturbed by the utter disregard for the parliamentary procedures and the unruly behaviour, so unbecoming of the position we occupy in the society as parliamentarians.

"The question I have been asking myself: can we make ever our parliament an effective instrument of change, informed debates, constructive criticism and orderly proceedings?" he asked, just ahead of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's reply to the debate on Budget.

Naidu lamented that the upper house of Parliament lost nearly 10 hours during the brief first part of the session due to disruptions and forced adjournments. The Rajya Sabha could not take up Question Hour on five days and also no Zero Hour could be conducted on five days.

Asserting that he was not blaming any political party in particular, he said that there should not be any "slanging matches between parties" and "stooping down" to competing with each other on unparliamentary language or behaviour.

"When we meet again in March, it's my fervent hope and earnest appeal to each one of you that we shall turn a new leaf in our Parliament's history through orderly, informed and constructive debates," Naidu said.

The Chairman said that when they had such good Parliamentarians on all sides who have the capacity to articulate, argue and put forth their point of view, why should the House lose the opportunity to have debates on relevant issues.

"Please keep the privilege, the decorum of this august House. We are supposed to be elders. Please keep this in mind and respond in such a manner that the prestige of the House goes up," he said.

--IANS

mak-mgu/vd