Meghraj jain, Former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha

Participating in the discussion on the role of Rajya Sabha in Indian polity, members cutting across parties stressed on amplifying the voice of smaller states in the Upper House.Many members supported the idea of raising smaller states' representation in the House, irrespective of their size of population."Even small states should have at least six members. We have seen members from the northeast states standing and speaking but no one listens to them. People may say that Mizoram has only one member in the Lok Sabha so how can they have six members here. I do not think that argument is valid," Samajwadi Party member Ram Gopal Yadav said.Yadav also pitched for discussion on issues related to judiciary in the House.Biju Janata Dal leader Prasanna Acharya concurred with the idea of raising smaller states' representation in the House and also wanted the role of government curtailed completely in nomination of members from across various fields such as arts, science, sports and music."There should not be any interference by the Central government. No politics should be there in nomination of members by the President of India," he said.Birendra Prasad Baishya of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) said members of smaller states should get equal opportunity in raising their issues.Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Naresh Gujral suggested that if house is disrupted, then additional time must be given. He also suggested to hold at least one special session in a year to discuss issues of national importance such as farmers' distress.On the first day of the 250th session of Rajya Sabha, a landmark event, members also raised concern over encroachment by the Central government into the domains of states.T.K. Rangarajan of the Communist Party of India-Marxist said that Lok Sabha members represent a constituency while Rajya Sabha represents the states. He said that each state has its own distinct culture, language and food and they must remain so."The way this government is functioning you are encroaching upon our linguistic area, cultural area. The fear of the people, members this side, especially from Tamil Nadu, we are afraid that this country is heading towards one language, one culture, one food. This is very dangerous," he said.( With inputs from IANS )

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Proponents of use of regional language got a major shot in their arm on Thursday with Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu endorsing the idea in a big way. ...

Members of Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena on Monday gave a letter at Raj Bhavan here staking claim to form the government in Maharashtra, saying the present dispensation does not have the required number to prove its majority in the floor test. ...

The Pegasus spyware issue and the state of economy are likely to come up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha next week. ...

Days after the furore over the new dress of Rajya Sabha marshals that resembled those worn by defence personnel, the marshals on Thursday were seen without their decorated peaked caps. ...

With many Rajya Sabha members across party lines suggesting changes in certain provisions of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019, the government on Thursday agreed to refer the draft legislation to a house Select Committee. ...

Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday lauded Union Home Minister Amit Shah who said that there will be a pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC) and that Assam will naturally be a part of the process. ...

Protesting government's move to withdraw SPG security cover of Gandhi family and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Congress on Wednesday raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha and urged the government to restore special protection. ...

Setting the minimum number of members from a state at six and clipping the role of the Central government in nomination of members by the President to the Upper House are some of the suggestions to strengthen the house's role as the Council of States ...