Parl Session ends before schedule, Oppn urges Prez to return farm Bills

New Delhi: Amid the concerns of the spread of Coronavirus among lawmakers, the Monsoon Session of both the Houses of Parliament, which witnessed stiff resistance over Farm Bills by the Opposition parties, was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, seven days before schedule.

While the Opposition boycotted the proceedings, the Upper House on Wednesday passed important Bills such as The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020, The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020, the three labour codes and the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill.

The Lok Sabha, which met at 6 pm instead of 3 pm, passed The Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020, prior to its adjournment sine die.

Meanwhile, various Opposition parties took out a silent protest march in the Parliament complex against the contentious farm Bills passed recently. They have requested President Ram Nath Kovind not to give his assent to the contentious Farm Bills, and conveyed to him that their passage in Rajya Sabha was "unconstitutional", Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Wednesday.

"The government should have consulted all parties, farmer leaders before bringing the Bills," Azad said after meeting the President.

"The Constitution was undermined... We have given a representation to President that the Farm Bills have been passed unconstitutionally and he should return these Bills," Azad said.

The Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, have been passed by both Houses and await presidential assent.

Expressing his displeasure over disturbances created by Opposition members, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said: "Though the session has been satisfactory in terms of productivity, there were some areas of concern. I appeal to all members, 'from the depth of my heart' to ensure that such unruly behaviour is not repeated." "To protest is the right of the Opposition. Any member, for that matter. But how should it be done? The floor of the House is the most effective way, and not through boycott," Naidu said while calling Sunday's incidents as "unfortunate."

Naidu further added: "The Rajya Sabha session is being concluded ahead of its planned session. In the 10 sittings, 25 Bills were passed and 6 Bills introduced. In total, 3.15 hours were lost due to disruptions in this session and 57 per cent of the total functional time of the House was spent on government legislative business. The high productivity of the previous sessions continued this time too."

Meanwhile, BSP supremo Mayawati on Wednesday hit out at the government as well as the Opposition for the ruckus and chaos during the ongoing Monsoon Session, saying their conduct has harmed the dignity of Parliament and the Constitution.