So far in this session, the Rajya Sabha has held discussions on the Ministries of Urban Development and Housing, and Agriculture…reports Asian Lite News
Almost the entire Opposition has demanded that the Rajya Sabha hold a discussion on the functioning of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which has a direct bearing on State governments, with many issues that have overlapping areas of jurisdiction. The YSR Congress Party and the Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi are the only Opposition parties who have not endorsed the demand; the Biju Janata Dal joined the 15 parties belonging to the INDIA bloc in urging the government to hold a debate in the Upper House in this session.
Speaking in the House, the Trinamool Congress’ leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien said, “I appeal to the Chair, please do not shy away from it [the Opposition demand]. This is the Council of States and so many States have to deal with the Home Ministry. We want to speak to the Home Minister and want to hear from him.”
The TMC had earlier raised the issue during Wednesday’s Business Advisory Committee meeting, and also shot off a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday, which argued that “Home Affairs is an important area where the federal structure needs to be clearly demarcated and respected.”
So far in this session, the Rajya Sabha has held discussions on the Ministries of Urban Development and Housing, and Agriculture. Mr. Dhankhar announced on Thursday that the House will deliberate on the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, a discussion that will be led by the TMC.
The Lok Sabha has already scheduled its discussions on the functioning of various Union Ministries; the Home Ministry is not on the Lower House’s list.
Opposition jabs BJP over Parliament roof leak video
The BJP-led Central government found itself in hot water after the Congress and Samajwadi Party posted videos of water leaking in the Parliament lobby as Delhi received heavy rainfall.
While Congress MP Manickam Tagore moved an adjournment motion on the issue in Lok Sabha, Akhilesh Yadav taunted the BJP for spending billions on constructing a new Parliament and sought proceedings be moved to the old building.
Taking to X, Manickam Tagore said, “Paper leakage outside, water leakage inside. The recent water leakage in the Parliament lobby used by the President highlights urgent weather resilience issues in the new building, just a year after completion.”
Samajwadi Party chief and Kannauj MP Akhilesh Yadav urged the government to shift the remainder of the monsoon session to the old Parliament building.
“The old Parliament was better than this, where even the old MPs could come and meet. Why not go back to the old Parliament, at least till the time the ‘water dripping program’ is going on in the new building constructed with billions of rupees,” Yadav tweeted.
“The public is asking whether the water leakage from every new roof built under the BJP government is a part of their well-thought-out design,” he quipped.
The government said the adhesive used to fix the glass domes over the building’s lobby came off slightly, causing a “minor water leak” amid heavy rain on Wednesday.
The new Parliament building, part of the government’s ambitious Rs 20,000 crore Central Vista Redevelopment Project, was inaugurated on May 28, 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
However, several opposition parties, including the Congress, had boycotted the ceremony. Built over an area of 64,500 square metres with state-of-the art amenities, the new building was constructed at a cost of Rs 862 crore.
The national capital recorded 108 mm of rain in the past 24 hours, the highest in a single day in July in 14 years. At least nine people have died in rain-related incidents as heavy showers crippled normal life, submerging roads and leaving residential areas waterlogged.
