Government responsible for "washout" during winter session of Parliament: Jairam Ramesh

Delhi [India], December 2 (ANI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday accused the BJP-led central government of being responsible for the "washout" of proceedings since the start of the Winter Session of Parliament and alleged that the opposition leaders were "not allowed to speak".

"Who is responsible for this washout? It is the government that is responsible. Opposition wants discussion on issues of Adani, Manipur, Sambhal, Ajmer, unemployment...But our notices are not even mentioned and our leaders are not allowed to speak," Jairam Ramesh told ANI.
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the fifth straight day without transacting substantial business over opposition demands.
"Today, on the fifth day of Parliament, the House was adjourned...We have demanded that the government should hold a two-day discussion on the 75th year of the Constitution," Ramesh said.
He said parties have different issues they want to focus on.
"Different parties have different perspectives, TMC has said that it is a part of the INDIA alliance but they sometimes have different agenda. They never said the Adani issue is not a major issue," Jairam Ramesh said.
The Parliament is expected to resume its normal functioning from Tuesday after days of disruprtion over demands of opposition parties with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stating after meeting of floor leaders that members shared concern over the stalemate and "everyone has accepted that discussions will be held from tomorrow".
The two Houses of Parliament have seen repeated adjournments over opposition demands including a discussion on Adani issue, Sambhal violence and Manipur situation.
In an effort to break the stalemate, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called a meeting of floor leaders of political parties in his chamber on Monday afternoon.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Rijiju said listed business including bills will be taken up in the two Houses of Parliament.
"Today, a meeting of all-party floor leaders was held with Speaker (Om Birla) today. Since a few days there has been a deadlock in the Parliament, everyone has expressed their concerns over it. We too said that all elected representatives come to the Parliament of India to express their views and the Parliament not functioning (properly) for several days now is not good. Everyone accepted this," he said.
The minister said opposition parties made several demands.
He said there was a proposal before Business Advisory Committee to have a discussion on Constitution and the government has agreed to it.
"On December 13-14, we will hold discussion on Constitution. The discussion would first be held in Lok Sabha...everyone has accepted. On December 16-17, discussion will be held in Rajya Sabha," he said.
Rijiju said Lok Sabha Speaker told the meeting that if anyone wants to raise an issue, there is a rule for it.
"You can submit a notice for it but creating a ruckus in Parliament and obstructing the functioning is not good. Everyone has accepted this. It is good that everyone has accepted that discussions will be held from tomorrow. We will pass the first Bill tomorrow after discussions in Lok Sabha. In Rajya Sabha too, Listed Business will be passed. I appeal once again to all Opposition MPs and Leaders that all agreements that have happened today - we should run the Parliament smoothly...Starting tomorrow, the Parliament will function smoothly - such an agreement has been made. I am hopeful that this will happen," he said.
Those present at the meeting of floor leaders included Congress member Gaurav Gogoi, TDP's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, DMK's TR Baalu, NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule, Samajwadi Party's Dharmendra Yadav, Janata Dal-United member Dileshwar Kamait, RJD's Abhay Kushwaha - RJD, TMC's Kalyan Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant and CPI(M) leader K Radhakrisnan.
Parliamentary proceedings have been stalled since the beginning of the Winter Session amid protests by opposition parties. On Monday, the two Houses were adjourned till 12 noon and then for the rest of the day.
The winter session of Parliament began on November 25 and will continue till December 20. (ANI)