New Delhi: Leaders of various parties yesterday assured Rajya Sabha Chairperson Hamid Ansari of allowing the question hour to run smoothly as he agreed upon to have zero hour every day, where members can raise important issues.
As of now, zero hour is held on alternate days in the upper house, said Rajya Sabha officials.
The decision was taken in an all-party meet called by Ansari to discuss change in rules to ensure orderly functioning of the house.
“The chair agreed to have zero hour daily starting Tuesday provided members allow smooth functioning of question hour,” a source said. The system will run on trial basis for this session. “If it goes well, then it could become a regular practice from winter session,” the source added.
Ansari has been concerned about disruptions in the house leading to adjournments.
The upper house saw disruptions yesterday also, when it was adjourned till noon following noisy protests by Samajwadi Party members demanding special status for Uttar Pradesh.
Ansari had said last week: “Every single rule in the rule book, every single (bit of) etiquette was being violated,” and added that if members wished the house to become “a federation of anarchists, then it is a different matter”. As members protested, Ansari later offered a clarification and agreed to review his comments.
The source said the issue of “a federation of anarchists” was also raised but parties left it to Ansari to consider withdrawal of the comments. Members have demanded that the names of MPs who approach the chairman’s podium while protesting should not be mentioned in the bulletin of Rajya Sabha. The chair has agreed to consider this suggestion.
IANS
