In the two years of NDA rule, the number of sittings in Parliament has increased as compared to the 10 years of previous UPA reign, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said here today.
Highlighting the contrasts with regard to functioning of Parliament during BJP and Congress-led governments, he said that under BJP-led NDA government, Lok Sabha held 149 sittings which comes to around 75 per year, while Rajya Sabha had 143 that counts to around 71 per year.
"In respect of both the houses, the number of sittings have increased by four per year in comparison to the previous 10 years," Naidu told reporters.
During the last two years, Naidu said a total of 101 bills have been introduced -- 96 in Lok Sabha and 5 in Rajya Sabha -- which comes to over 50 per year.
Stating that Lok Sabha passed 96 bills (48 per year) and Rajya Sabha cleared 83 bills (over 41 per year) in the NDA-rule , he said adding "Bills passed by Lok Sabha increased by 3 per year over the last 10 years while it has come down by four bills per year in respect of Rajya Sabha".
Stressing that 44 bills were pending in Rajya Sabha as against 11 bills in Lok Sabha, Naidu said, "This mismatch is creating some problems in synchronising legislative work in both the Houses. I would like to discuss this issue with the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and leaders of the various parties to clear the backlog in Rajya Sabha."
The people are getting more and more restive with disruptions in Parliament and delaying legislative proposals, he said, adding that "disruption" and delay tactics will "invite a price".
Pointing to Congress' defeat in recent assembly polls, while BJP winning in Assam and making inroads in Kerala and West Bengal, he said "You have seen the mandate. It was against the obstructionism and negativity."
"After some avoidable disruptions of Parliament and particularly, during the monsoon and winter sessions last year, both the Houses have evolved to a new equilibrium. Opposition is raising some issues with all the might they can muster but legislative work is going on. I hope this balance will continue to stay in the days ahead," he added.
