Kurien pulls up govt for absence of minister in the House

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien today pulled up the government over absence of any minister during a debate on working of Women and Child Development Ministry.
"I know voting is happening in Lok Sabha on a Bill. There are ministers who are Rajya Sabha members. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister is also a Rajya Sabha member. When voting is going on there, one cabinet minister should be present here. I should expect the government to take this issue little more seriously," Kurien said after the House reassembled after two adjournments in the post-lunch sitting.
As soon as the House met after the lunch break to resume the debate on the working of the Ministry, Opposition members objected to the absence of any cabinet minister to note down the points raised by members and demanded adjournment of the House.

The Opposition members said this is a serious issue and an insult to the House. The government should take Rajya Sabha "seriously", they added.
The Chair adjourned the House first for five minutes and when no cabinet minister turned up, the House was adjourned for another five minutes till 2.15 PM.
The House resumed after Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda and Scial Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot arrived.