Less members in House, debate on education inconclusive in RS

The debate on the functioning of HRD Ministry today remained inconclusive in the Rajya Sabha as members pointed out thin attendance in the House and questioned the absence of their colleagues who were not there when the important issue of education was being discussed.
"Yesterday, when the topic was AgustaWestland, the House was full. Today the hall is empty when the discussion is on education. There was no gathering even when drought was discussed here," Samajwadi Party member Neeraj Shekhar noted when the debate was in its fag end.
His view was shared some other members including his party colleague Ravi Prakash Verma and D Raja of CPI.

"I share the strong feelings expressed by Neeraj," Raja said.
There were a total of 37 members in the 245-member House when Shekhar raised the issue.
Verma said, "Today when education is being discussed, the entire House is empty. Yesterday when (political) football was being played, the entire House was full."

HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who was present in House till around 8 PM, could not give a reply to the debate as the members insisted that it should be done when the House has full attendance.
The government was keen on a reply today itself but members from Congress, SP, CPI-M and some others insisted that since it is already approaching 8 PM, the reply should be put off.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien expressed his inability to allow the minister to give a reply beyond 8 PM unless there was consensus among members to run the House beyond that time.
After arguments and counter arguments, an agreement was reached that the reply will take place tomorrow.
Finally the Deputy Chairman decided the minister's reply will happen tomorrow.