Derek O’Brien writes: Notes from my Parliament Diary

Here are immoderate notes from my diary connected what to expect, and what not to expect, successful this ongoing league of Parliament.

Coldplay and Kumbh: At the 2 caller cafeterias for MPs, volition parliamentarians sermon however galore of their colleagues watched the euphony performance successful Mumbai? Or sipped Diet Coke successful “dry” Ahmedabad? Or, volition the Coldplay chatter implicit blistery java suffer retired to the Kumbh Mela? The deaths of hapless pilgrims. Or, Yogi Adityanath and Amit Shah competing to crook a ineffable dip into a photograph op?

Fish ban: Even MPs who are against the precise thought of banning thing person been calling for a prohibition connected the basa food that’s served successful the Parliament canteen. Basa is simply a benignant of catfish that tin accommodate to utmost conditions, absorbing nutrients adjacent from contaminated waters. Thus, it has a precise precocious probability of carrying toxins successful its body. Tasteless. Avoidable. But determination are acold much important issues to combat for, and bigger food to catch!

Rajya Sabha MPs successful Lok Sabha: MPs from the House of the People (Lok Sabha) are ne'er allowed to beryllium seated successful the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). But the reverse happens. Now that the hallowed Central Hall is not utilized for associated sittings, the associated league takes spot successful the Lok Sabha.

As is convention, the President’s Address is written by the Union government. Political observers and opponents volition way the fig of times the pursuing words/phrases are mentioned successful the address: Price rise, younker unemployment, falling rupee, states deprived of funds, Manipur.

Missing Deputy Speaker: Even though the BJP had a comfy bulk successful the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24), the House ne'er had a Deputy Speaker. Nothing has changed successful the 18th Lok Sabha. Still nary motion of a Deputy Speaker. I volition stake my location that the NDA coalition, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, volition not capable this important law presumption adjacent during the ongoing session.

Who volition talk the most: In the erstwhile league of Parliament, excluding discussions connected Bills and the Constitution, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha spoke for implicit four-and-a-half hours, oregon astir 30 per cent of the clip of the House. This was a record. Will the grounds beryllium broken?

Impeachment motion: For the archetypal clip successful history, an impeachment question was filed against the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who is besides the Vice President of India. The question was dismissed connected the grounds of method impropriety. Will the Opposition taxable a caller motion? Wait and watch.

Bill scrutiny: In the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-14), 7 retired of 10 Bills were sent to parliamentary committees for scrutiny. In the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24), this fig came down to lone 2 retired of 10 Bills being sent for scrutiny. It’s improbable this volition amended successful the 18th Lok Sabha.

Matters of urgent nationalist importance: MPs person the close to telephone the attraction of a curate to a substance of urgent nationalist importance, pursuing which the curate makes a little connection and members question clarifications. MPs whitethorn besides gully the attraction of the authorities to matters of urgent nationalist value by raising a treatment of abbreviated duration without a ceremonial question oregon voting. In the past session, nary calling attraction motions oregon abbreviated duration discussions were allowed successful either House of Parliament.

Waqf Bill: Some governmental pundits were of the sentiment that the Union authorities would bulldoze the Waqf Amendment Bill earlier the Delhi elections. That cannot happen. The Rajya Sabha has notified that February 3, 4, and 6 (the House volition not beryllium sitting connected February 5 owed to the Delhi elections) person been allocated for treatment connected the Motion of Thanks connected the President’s Address.

Special invitee?: With the redevelopment of the Parliament premises, galore regulars consciousness that the statue of Mahatma Gandhi has mislaid its spot of prominence. In June past year, the statue was shifted to a little important spot successful the precincts. A workfellow with a acheronian consciousness of humour suggested that Swami Pradiptananda, aka Kartik Maharaj, who was precocious awarded a Padma Shri, mightiness adjacent beryllium invited to the archetypal determination (at the entranceway to Parliament) wherever the statue of the Mahatma erstwhile stood. Why? He is the aforesaid idiosyncratic who publically said that it is “India’s misfortune that Mohandas Gandhi is considered the Father of the Nation”.

The writer is MP and leader, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party (Rajya Sabha). Additional research: Ayashman Dey