City
Epaper

Rajya Sabha defers bills as mark of respect to Sushma

By IANS | Updated: August 7, 2019 14:10 IST

Mourning the demise of BJP leader and former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday deferred some bills including one that seeks to remove the Congress President as a member of the trust running the Jallianwala Bagh memorial.

Open in App

The House, however, returned the bill seeking to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court to the Lok Sabha without discussion.

The money bill passed by the Lower House seeks to increase the strength of the apex court from 30 to 33. The main opposition Congress agreed to it with the rider that a discussion on it will be held later.

As soon as the House assembled, Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu made obituary reference to Sushma Swaraj and members observed silence to pay their respects.

Following this, Culture and Tourism Minister of State Prahalad Singh Patel proposed to pass the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill without discussion as a mark of respect to Sushma Swaraj but the Congress opposed this.

Congress leader Anand Sharma suggested it be deferred until discussion take place as and when the House meets next.

He objected to the key provision in the bill that removes the Congress President as a trustee of the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial.

The Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the sky would not fall if the bill was taken up two or three months later.

Anand Sharma said one should not be unfair to a party that led the freedom movement, and urged the government to have a big heart.

But Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi insisted on passing the bill without discussion. In case the Congress was not ready for it, the discussion could be held and voted in the House.

With the House divided over the issue, the bill was deferred taking the views of various party leaders.

The other bills which were deferred are the Dam Safety Bill, 2019 and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019.

The Rajya Sabha was on Wednesday adjourned sine die.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Lower HousecongressSushma SwarajAnand Sharma
Open in App

Related Stories

PuneBaramati Bypoll 2026: Congress Sets Condition to Withdraw Candidature Against Sunetra Pawar

PuneBaramati By-Election 2026: Maharashtra DCM Sunetra Pawar To File Nomination Papers Today

NationalKerala: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's Convoy Stopped, Staff Member Assaulted in Malappuram

NationalPunjab Congress Leader Khushbaz Jatan and Driver Killed, Cop Injured in Road Accident in Sonipat

NationalLal Singh, Veteran Punjab Congress Leader, Passes Away at 83

National Realted Stories

NationalDelhi Metro to run late trains in view of IPL clash at Arun Jaitley Stadium today

NationalVHRP National Women President welcomes Parliament session on proposed changes in Women's Reservation Act

NationalDelhi HC issues notice to NIA, Jail authorities on Masarat Alam Bhat's plea for restoration phone call facility

NationalDelhi assembly security breach: Two police personnel suspended

NationalWest Bengal Polls: "Manifesto unveiled keeping in mind opinions of people", says Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir