Parliament adjourned, but Lok Sabha passes appropriation bills (Second Lead)
By IANSWednesday, December 1, 2010
NEW DELHI - Parliament was adjourned for the 14th consecutive day Wednesday, but the Lok Sabha managed to pass the appropriation bills by a voice vote amid slogan shouting by opposition members for a parliamentary probe into the 2G spectrum allotment of 2008.
After the Lok Sabha met at 12 noon following an adjournment earlier, opposition members rushed to the well of the house demanding constitution of a joint parliamentary committee (JPC). Speaker Meira Kumar went ahead with the business listed for the day amid the din.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee moved the appropriation bills and the supplementary demands for grants which were passed by a voice vote. The bills propose to authorise payment and appropriation of sums from and out of the consolidated fund of India for the services of the financial year 2010-11.
Earlier, the proceedings began in the Lok Sabha with the speaker reading out an obituary refrence for former union minister Mahabir Prasad who died in the Gangaram Hospital Nov 29.
Immediately after the one-minute silence, opposition MPs were on their feet, raising slogans of “We want JPC”. Within a couple of minutes, the speaker adjourned the house till noon.
In the Rajya Sabha too, opposition members continued to press for their demand for a JPC. The house was first adjourned till noon and then for the day.
The question hour was taken up in the Lok Sabha only Nov 9 when the winter session began. In the Rajya Sabha, the crucial question hour was never taken up due to continuing opposition protests.
