New Delhi: The government on Wednesday came under
attack for "postponing" the Monsoon Session of Parliament,
with Left parties asking whether it was "afraid" of facing the
House when major issues are to be discussed.
While the CPI(M) accused it of "abdicating its
accountability" to the people at a time when major national
issues are to be discussed, the CPI said it was a "disturbing
trend" that the number of days Parliament has functioned in
the past few years was declining.
"Is the government afraid of facing Parliament when
important issues are to be discussed? Gradually, the number of
days of sittings is declining. The Winter Session was gone
(due to disruption), Budget Session was curtailed and now the
Monsoon Session is postponed," said CPI Secretary D Raja.
The Monsoon session, which normally begins in July, would
be held from August one till September eight this time.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said, "The postponement of
the session is most regrettable and unfortunate when it is
time to discuss many burdens that are being imposed on the
people. Government has decided to postpone the session in
order to avoid its answerability to the people.
"In the process, the UPA government is undermining our
constitutional scheme of things where the sovereignty of the
people is exercised through the elected members to whom the
government (executive) is accountable," Yechury said.
The Left parties, both Yechury and Raja said, have been
demanding at least 100 days` sitting of Parliament in a year.
"Instead of moving toward this goal, the UPA is abdicating
its accountability to parliament," Yechury said.
Raja said it was a "disturbing trend" that Parliament is
now sitting for only 60-70 days on an average in a year.
Government will have to take into confidence Parliament and
political parties on all the major issues affecting the
people, he added.
PTI
