First phase of Budget session productive, says Shri M.Venkaiah NaiduEnding discretion in allocation of minerals, passing of Insurance Bill major outcomes, says the MinisterShri Naidu calls for broad

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu has said that the first phase of the Budget session of Parliament that concluded today has been productive and has been the most significant and rewarding of the four sessions of Parliament since the Government assumed office in May, 2015. Shri Naidu briefed the media on the outcomes of the Budget session so far here today.

Shri Venkaiah Naidu said that with the passing of Mines and Minerals and Coal Mines Bills replacing the Ordinances, “the Parliament has enabled the beginning of a new era of transparent governance in the country by ending the Government’s discretion in allocation of minerals which has come to be a cesspool of corruption and malpractices. I would rate these two legislations at the top of the major outcomes of the Budget session so far. Passing of the Insurance Bill hiking FDI in insurance sector is the next major outcome and I thank the Congress Party for their support”.

Shri Naidu further noted that “ I would like to have these two legislations passed unanimously. But our friends in some parties had different ideas. They in effect, wanted us to ask the states if they wanted to end or not the discretion in allocation of minerals and the attendant corruption. I am happy that this contingency has been averted”.

Referring to the Ordinances promulgated, Shri Naidu said, “ While governments belonging to different parties have issued 637 Ordinances over the years, some parties have questioned our Government for doing the same as if it was a crime. The objections raised lacked convictions. While several Ordinances were issued in the past on issues of little consequence, the six Ordinances under discussion were inspired by larger goals”.

Referring to the Land Bill that was passed by Lok Sabha, Shri Venkaiah Naidu said that “ this Bill will be taken up in Rajya Sabha during the next phase of Budget session and the Government welcomes a wider national debate on this issue. Any good suggestions that will come out of such a debate will be considered by the Government. The Land Ordinance was a result of collective demand of states for an enabling land acquisition law with less hurdles. The changes made to the Act of 2013 were aimed to benefit farmers, rural areas and the country at large”.

Asserting that the Government is walking the talk on Black Money issue, Shri Naidu said that introduction of the Foreign Incomes and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill, 2015 in Lok Sabha today was a historic initiative to address this issue.

The Minister, while stressing on the need for a broad consensual approach in Parliament on matters of inclusive socio-economic development, noted that “ Our country is running against time to catch up with the lost opportunities. Parliament should prove to be an enabler rather than a play ground for political and obstructionist battles”.

Giving details of functioning of both the Houses, Shri Naidu informed that Lok Sabha has passed 14 Bills while Rajya Sabha cleared 7 and both the Houses passed a set of 7 Bills. Productivity of Lok Sabha has been 123.45% while Rajya Sabha has worked for 106.79% of the scheduled time. Lok Sabha sat beyond the scheduled business hours on 11 days while the upper house did so on 9 days.

Shri Naidu further informed that disruption of proceedings have come down and thanked the leaders and members of all parties for the same. He said while the Lok Sabha lost 1 hour 46 minutes due to interruptions, the House functioned for an additional 27 hours 12 minutes. Rajya Sabha has lost 4 hours 21 minutes but made up an additional 11 hours 41 minutes.

Stating that there were quality debates in both the Houses, Shri Naidu said that 106 members of Lok Sabha and 53 of Rajya Sabha participated in the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. In the Lok Sabha, 238 members participated in the debate on Railway Budget while 176 did so on General Budget. The participation in Rajya sabha was 42 and 52 respectively.

Shri Naidu said “As Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, I am happy with the Budget session so far but there is still scope for improvement”.

The Minister elaborated that the first phase of the Budget session has been rewarding on account of the Parliament passing some important legislations with far reaching positive implications, presentation of the first full General Budget and Railway Budgets that laid foundations for the much desired rapid economic development with focus on infrastructure development etc.

AAR March 20, 2015