LS adjourned sine die; House passes 'record' number of 18 bills

The Winter session of Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die today after passing a 'record' number of 18 legislations, including amendment bills on amend coal mines allocation and labour laws, in 22 sittings.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan announced the sine die adjournment soon after noon when the House re-assembled after an adjournment forced by a vociferous opposition which demanded a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of conversions.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge made a vain attempt to seek a response from the Prime Minister, who was present in the House, on the conversion issue.

"I will not allow anyone to speak. I will not allow even the Prime Minister to speak," the Speaker said.

When Kharge rose to speak after papers were laid, Mahajan said in a lighter vein "aap kuchh achhi baat toh karte nahin (You don't say anything good)."

To that Kharge said "I will say something good" and wanted the Prime Minister to make a statement.

Apparently referring to the Prime Minister's 'Mann ki baat' programme on All India Radio, some Congress members were heard saying, "PM apni mann ki baat sadan ko bole (The PM should speak his heart out in the House)."

However, the Speaker asserted that nobody would be allowed to speak. "Jab maine bola nahin, toh nahin (When I have said No, it is No)," she said.

After that she said, "I am happy to inform you that 18 legislations were passed during the session which is a record of sorts in the recent years."

Observing that almost three hours were lost due to disruptions and adjournments, the Speaker said that during the 22 sittings of the Winter session, the House unanimously adopted two resolutions condemning the massacre of innocent school children in Peshawar and the release on bail of 26/11 mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi by a Pakistani Court.