Congress questions delay in proroguing Parliament Monsoon session

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the delay in proroguing Parliament's Monsoon session, alleging the government was seeking a two-thirds majority to pass delimitation-related constitutional amendments. He said the ruling side lacked the numbers despite allegedly attempting to break up parties

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday questioned the delay in proroguing Parliament’s Monsoon session, saying “something fishy” was going on and the government was trying to conjure up a “super-tainted” two-thirds majority, but would not succeed in achieving that to get the Constitution amendment Bill involving delimitation passed.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said normally prorogation takes place three to four days after both Houses of Parliament are adjourned sine die. The gap in 2015 was 28 days and that record would soon be broken as 27 days had passed without prorogation for this year’s Monsoon session, he said.

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The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die on August 13.

Questioning the government’s intention, Ramesh wondered whether a conspiracy was being hatched.

“There is definitely something fishy going on. The government has been aspiring and aiming for a super-tainted two-thirds majority, but they still lack the figures and are far from achieving that goal. They are breaking up parties, but they won’t succeed in getting the super-tainted two-thirds majority to get the delimitation Bills passed,” Ramesh told PTI.

During the Budget session on April 17, the Modi government faced a setback as the Constitution amendment Bill involving delimitation for the implementation of women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was defeated in the Lower House.

Of the 528 MPs who voted, 298 voted in support, while 230 opposed it. The Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.