MPs must exercise restraint: PM

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 25. The month-long Monsoon session of Parliament ended today with both Houses adjourning sine die. The session which began on July 24, enacted 21 Bills, including the creation of three new States of Chhatisgarh, Uttaranchal and Jharkhand and a Constitutional amendment enabling relaxation of marks for SCs/STs for promotion in Government jobs.

In his customary end of the session remarks, the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, underlining the need for raising issues in the House in a controlled manner, said the dignity of question hour must be maintained. He also paid homage to Rajesh Pilot and P.R. Kumaramangalam.

The Leader of Opposition, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, criticised the Government's approach to J & K peace talks which she described as `confused.' Attacking the ruling NDA, she said it lacked a clear policy and well-thought out strategy.

Ms. Gandhi said the Congress (I) fully supported the peace process and hoped the Government would act in a coordinated and effective manner while handling it. She also criticised the Government for not taking up several important items for discussion in the House such as the Subrahmanyam Committee report and the Women's Reservation Bill.

Speaking at a press conference later, the Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr. G.M.C. Balayogi, said the session was most productive from the point of view of legislative business. The Lok Sabha also focused its attention on four important matters of public importance such as the autonomy resolution passed by J&K Assembly, the flood situation in the country, disinvestment and atrocities on linguistic minorities, he said.

The House deliberated on the need to appoint an Inquiry Committee into the killings of Amarnath pilgrims. The Government's attention was drawn on the difficulties faced by jute growers and to the reported decline of Rupee in foreign exchange market.

Mr. Balayogi said during the session, steps were taken to streamline zero hour proceedings with all parties agreeing to raise only matters of national importance. Interaction with floor leaders of various parties as part of ongoing efforts for qualitative and quantitative improvement in the proceedings of the House has started yielding ``positive results,''he added.

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Section  : National
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