New Delhi: Opposition parties were up in arms after coming to know about suspension of Question Hour and private members’ bills in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien said the opposition members will lose the right to question the government.
“Pandemic an excuse to murder democracy,” he said in a tweet.
MPs required to submit Qs for Question Hour in #Parliament 15 days in advance. Session starts 14 Sept. So Q Hour cancelled ? Oppn MPs lose right to Q govt. A first since 1950 ? Parliament overall working hours remain same so why cancel Q Hour?Pandemic excuse to murder democracy
— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) September 2, 2020
According to notifications issued by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats on Wednesday, there will be no Question Hour in the upcoming session to be held from September 14 to October 1, and the Zero Hour would be restricted in both Houses, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There will be no Question Hour during the Session. In view of the request of the Government owing to the prevailing extraordinary situation due to COVID-19, the Speaker has directed that no day be fixed for transaction of Private Members’ Business during the Session,” the Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a notification.
Both Houses will function on Saturdays and Sundays as well.
The Session will be held in two shifts — 9 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 7 PM. Except for the first day, the Rajya Sabha will sit in the morning shift and the Lok Sabha will sit in the evening, according to the notifications.
O’Brien pointed out that Question Hour had been cancelled in the past when Parliament was called for special sitting, but the upcoming monsoon Session was a “regular Session”.
DMK leader Kanimozhi said the BJP government’s decision to suspend the Question Hour for an entire Session conveys just one message – “Even elected representatives have no right to question the government.”
Last week, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had written to Speaker Om Birla urging him not to curtail Question Hour and Zero Hour because that will prevent lawmakers from raising issues of national importance.
