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Don't misuse Money Bills, consult RS more: Manmohan

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha should be given "greater respect by the executive" and should be consulted before "drastic measures" are taken, like "converting a state into Union Territories and redrawing its boundaries", former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday, referring to the government's move to end special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and split it into two Union Territories.

He also suggested several measures to make the Rajya Sabha more effective and give it more teeth, including that the Upper House be allowed to discuss and deliberate important measures in greater depth.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, the former Prime Minister said: "In the 16th Lok Sabha, only 25 per cent Bills were referred to committees as compared to 15th and 14th LS. Regardless of what the other House does, it is crucial for our House to form select committees to ensure Bills received go through detailed scrutiny," Singh said.

The Congress MP from Rajasthan said misuse of the Money Bill provision should be avoided. "We have seen instances of misuse of the Money Bill provision by the Executive, leading to the bypassing of the Rajya Sabha on important matters. Those in Treasury benches must ensure this is avoided," Singh said. He also criticised the government for "hiding" economic data. "Shooting down messengers of bad news or shutting off economic reports and data is juvenile and does not behove a rising global economic powerhouse."

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