New Delhi, Aug 22: The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die today after a month-long monsoon session that witnessed pandemonium over several issues, including that of the CVC report on defence deals leading to a no-confidence motion against the Vajpayee government. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and leader of opposition Sonia Gandhi were present in the Lok Sabha as 'Vande Mataram' was played, marking the adjournment of the House.

Speaker Manohar Joshi told the members that the House had a total of 21 sittings, spread over 113 hours, but lost 35 hours and 36 minutes of its precious time due to adjournments on account of members raising slogans and rushing to the well. However, he said that the house substantially made up for the lost time by sitting late for 28 hours and six minutes, including twice beyond midnight. In effect, the total time lost due to disruptions was little over seven hours.

The highlight of the monsoon session was a no-confidence motion moved by Gandhi against the government and a two-day debate on it on August 18 and 19 that lasted 21 hours and seven minutes. While the Prime Minister intervened in the debate, Gandhi replied to it after 39 members participated in the discussion. The motion was defeated after division. In the Rajya Sabha, chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and several other members expressed anguish over opposition boycott on the CVC issue as the house adjourned sine die.

Bureau Report