New Delhi

Accusing the opposition of stalling proceedings and obstructing crucial legislative business in Rajya Sabha, government today said they had held national interest “captive” by their “short-sighted” political considerations.

“I am constrained to say that the opposition has let the country down in the Rajya Sabha during this winter session.

The way they have disrupted the House for almost half of the session time has no justification,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said.

“It is unfortunate that the interests of the country had been held captive by their short-sighted political considerations,” he told reporters at the conclusion of the session.

In a sharp attack, Naidu said, “I hope that the opposition would have realised that the battle with the government will have to be on the strength of their ideas rather than shrillness of their voices.”

Drawing a comparison between the functioning of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, he asked as to why the Upper House had been marred by interruptions in 16 of the 22 sittings, while the Lower House witnessed brief interruptions on five sittings.

While Lok Sabha passed “a record of 18 bills” as against 12 in the last budget session, Rajya Sabha cleared only 12 legislations during this period, the Minister said, adding the Upper House could not take up six bills passed by Lok Sabha.

“We have majority in Lok Sabha and they have the numbers in Rajya Sabha. … It is evident that while the majority in Lok Sabha was used constructively, the same was used to obstruct legislation in Rajya Sabha,” Naidu said.

Observing that it would not be wise to “totally obstruct” legislations, he appealed to opposition parties to “seriously introspect and ensure that Parliament lives up to expectations of the people in the times to come.” .

Naidu attacked the opposition for stalling Parliament to prevent the government from pursuing its development agenda and “restricting the government’s choice in the next budget.”

Referring to the controversial statement made outside the House by Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, he said heeding to the opposition’s request, the Prime Minister came to the House and disapproved of her statement.

“When the opposition wanted the Prime Minister to speak his mind on the matter, he did so. But you (opposition) can’t go on asking the Prime Minister to make a statement on each and every statement made,” Naidu said.

On the Insurance Bill, he said the opposition had earlier wanted the legislation to be sent to a Select Committee and said they would pass it in the next (winter) session. “We agreed. But still they did not allow it to be passed,” he rued.

The bill could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha “because of the obstruction by the Opposition. We will do what is necessary,” he said.

Asked whether the government would issue an ordinance, Naidu said, “That is a suggestion for action. Let us see.”

Terming the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill as a “historic” piece of legislation, he said, “It is the high point of the government’s initiative in the Winter Session.”

Asked about the fate of the bill, he said, “We will take it up in the next session.”

He praised the efforts of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in getting all stakeholders, including states, on board before introduction of this crucial bill.

Observing that six months of a government was not a long period but “good enough time” to make a clear statement of its intentions, Naidu said recovery of economy was top priority.

This warranted concrete initiatives to lay the ground for enhanced economic activities through simplification of tax regime, promoting the ease of doing business and increased flow of investments.

GST Bill, Companies Amendment Bill, Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill and the Electricity Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha were “clear pointers of our keenness to usher in the much desired reforms,” he said, adding two bills on labour reforms were also cleared during this session.

Naidu said while Lok Sabha passed 18 bills, Rajya Sabha could clear only 12 bills.

On account of interruptions, Lok Sabha lost three hours 26 minutes only, while Rajya Sabha has lost 51 hours 57 minutes.

Accordingly, the productivity of Lok Sabha was 105.71 per cent while that of Rajya Sabha was only 67.18 per cent.

“All concerned owe an answer to the nation for this,” Naidu said in an apparent attack on opposition.

The higher Education and Research Bill, Protection and Utilisation of Public Funded Intellectual Property Bill, Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Amendment bill, Delhi Hotels Repeal Bill, Food safety and Stanadrad (Amendment) Bill and Anti- Hijacking Bill were withdrawn in Rajya Sabha.

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