Modi government justifies promulgating ordinances

The Narendra Modi government on Friday justified promulgation of ordinances, saying it was as per the Constitution written by founding fathers of Indian democracy.

Asked if the government felt promulgating ordinances was right, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs S.S. Ahluwalia said it was being done as and when government felt a law was required in the inter-session period.

"We are not taking any wrong route. Our founding fathers have given a provision in the constitution that if there is an urgent requirement for a law, government can promulgate an ordinance," he said at a press conference at the end of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

"You have to get it cleared by Parliament in the next session... When we feel we need to bring a law in the inter-session period we bring an ordinance," he said.

Since it came to power in 2014, the NDA government has brought 28 ordinances. During the 15th Lok Sabha, the then government had promulgated 25 ordinances in its five-year tenure, while in the 14th Lok Sabha, 36 ordinances were passed.

In the Monsoon session itself, there were four bills replacing ordinances. The two houses altogether passed 13 bills.

Meanwhile, asked about an incident where Congress members threw bits of papers at Speaker Sumitra Mahajan in Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said it should be left behind.

"Many such incidents have happened. The Chair took action, we should now leave it behind," he said.

Asked about the he Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 to confer constitutional status on the Backward Classes Commission, which was passed in Rajya Sabha after opposition forced dropping of one of the clauses, and was then sent to a parliamentary panel, the minister accused Congress of blocking the bill.

"There is a disagreement in both houses over the bill. The amendment was brought by Congress despite knowing that it will create a legal problem.

"They are trying to block the bill, but the government is committed to pass the bill," he said.

The Monsoon Session, which started on July 17, ended on Friday.

--IANS

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