Parliament diary: August 9 programmes may force govt to reconsider extnsn of Session
Speaker Om Birla has made it clear that he would speak only in Hindi at all meetings or inside the House.
Oppostion leaders have raised objections to the proposed extension of the ongoing Budget Session beyond August 7. TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay stated that a special programme would be held throughout West Bengal on August 9 to commemorate the Quit India Movement. The Congress and like-minded parties mark the day on a massive scale each year and if Parliament were held on that day, it would be difficult for them to attend various ceremonies. The DMK also objected to the extension of the House as it had already planned a programme on August 7 in Chennai, where many of Opposition leaders will attend the unveiling of a statue of party luminary M. Karunanidhi.
Mulayam alleges govt conspiracy in extending parliament session
During a debate in Lok Sabha, veteran SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav called for Congress leader Adhir Chowdh-ury, among others and told them that the total number of MPs present in the House was only 25. He also pointed out that if the government wanted to pass major bills, why were several members, including Cabinet ministers, not present. Mr Chowdhury then info-rmed Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, about Mr Singh’s observation and received a nod from him to allow the SP leader to raise the issue. The veteran then stood up and declared that there was no point in extending the session. Mentioning that he could not attend a wedding in his constituency if the session were extended, he also claimed that there might be a conspiracy behind continuing the session.”
Speaker appoints interpreter to translate replies in BAC
Speaker Om Birla has made it clear that he would speak only in Hindi at all meetings or inside the House. Once a DMK MP asked the Speaker to reply to a query in English. The latter, however, requested him to listen to an English translation via the headphones provided to all MPs. A similar scene played out at a recent Business Advisory Committee meeting. DMK leader T.R. Balu objected to deliberations being held only in Hindi as no arrangements had been made for translation. The Speaker, therefore, appointed a person to serve as an interpreter.