Political considerations should not derail House: Naidu

With government lacking numbers in Rajya Sabha to push key and Opposition determined to stall some of them, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday reminded that this session is the last before the coming general elections and hence political considerations should not be allowed to derail the proceedings of the House.

Ahead of the Budget session beginning on Thursday, Naidu held deliberations with nearly three dozen leaders of different parties and reminded the leaders about a number of crucial bills pending in Rajya Sabha including three ordinance replacement bills and urged all sections of the House to come to a broad understanding on the business of the House to enable its smooth functioning.

Invoking the spirit and principles of republicanism, Naidu appealed to leaders of various parties to ensure a productive session of the Rajya Sabha and avail various opportunities to raise their points of view.

Leaders who attended the meeting included Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, AIADMK leader Navneeth Krishnan, DMK’s Tiruchy Siva, Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O` Brien, CPI-M’s T.K. Rangarajan and CPI’s D. Raja.

At the meeting of the floor leaders, Naidu said it would be appropriate to ensure that the Budget Session sets an example, being the first Session in the 70th year of Indian Republic.

With the Constitution of India coming into force on January 26, 1950, India became a sovereign democratic republic making the people the ultimate rulers, he reminded.

Holding that effective functioning of various institutions is critical for realising the ideals of India becoming a Republic, Naidu said the success of any democracy guided by the lofty principles of Republic depends on the efficacy of functioning of various institutions.

“Legislatures are important pillars of our Republic through which the sovereignty of the people is ensured. I fondly hope that the spirit of Republic will guide all of us during this Session of Parliament,” he said.