Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has yet again added to the speculation mill.
The Minister said Parliament can be summoned again because the Monsoon Session has not been prorogued. His remarks have fuelled fresh speculation over whether the government may bring back key pending Bills including Delimitation draft law within the existing session.
Rijiju also cited parliamentary history to reinforce his point, saying that since 1952 there had been “numerous occasions” when Parliament was adjourned sine die but not prorogued, after which the session was summoned again.
“After this interview I will give you the list,” he told the journalist.
“When the House is not prorogued, then the session can be called," he said something as a matter of fact. It is no rocket science either.
“It is up to the government. Whenever Parliament is to be called, it is government which decides and requests the President to call the session,” Rijiju told India Today TV.
Asked specifically whether there could be another session, Rijiju said: “It is nothing new which we are doing.”
However, when asked if that meant a special session could be on the cards, he said: “No, that I will not answer.”
The interviewer then suggested that the minister’s remarks could be interpreted as leaving the possibility open.
“You can read both ways,” Rijiju responded.
“As a Parliamentary Affairs Minister, I am always open to people’s scrutiny and observation also, and then when the time comes” he said, without elaborating.
The remarks come amid speculation over the government’s next move after the Monsoon Session was adjourned sine die.
But it has not been prorogued.
Both Houses were adjourned on August 13 sine die but the session had still not been formally closed several days later.
The Opposition and others ae hence keeping keeping fingers crossed about the possibility of the government using the existing session to bring back the Delimitation Bill and the Women's Reservation Amendment Bill.
For the Govt and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular, the monsoon session was a setback. The PM had to allow Dharmendra Pradhan resign as the Education Minister in view of Jantar Mantar protest.
But the treasury bench could not ensure passing of these hyped draft laws. Both the Women's Quota Bill and the Delimitation Bill are seen as gamechager and this is something the opposition parties especially the Congress party also knows it well.
Of course, there is no hard and fast rule and the session could be prorogued anytime by the President and government may try to pilot the Bills during Winter Session due by November third/last week.
The Delimitation Bill, which was brought along with the Women's Reservation Bill under the 131st Constitutional Amendment, failed to obtain the two-thirds majority required for passage in the Lok Sabha during the three-day special session in April.
ends
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