Letters: Parliament report card

With reference to “Budget session ends with many firsts” (April 13), the opposition parties needed the shock of an abject defeat in the recent assembly elections to realise that frequent interruptions in parliamentary work were counterproductive. On the other hand, the handsome wins have made Bharatiya Janata Party arrogant, so much so as to pack the money Bill with quite a few non-monetary issues as a device to ignore the Rajya Sabha where it lacks majority. Between the two extremes, Parliament redeemed itself by its productivity and useful contribution in the debates in both Houses. Lok Sabha registered 108 per cent efficiency and Rajya Sabha 86 per cent—a far cry from the earlier fruitless sessions. Passing of the goods and services tax Bill was a feather in the cap of our MPs. Clearance of the Mental Health Care Bill and Maternity Benefit (amendment) Bill highlighted social awareness among our representatives.

Unfortunately, the almost empty seats in the Houses towards the end of sessions were a disappointment. Should the high earnings from parliamentary work be related with the attendance and attention of our MPs, if not with their performance?

Y G Chouksey   Pune

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