The Rajya Sabha could not take up the first six listed questions for oral answers due to absence of members in the house on Tuesday. Three of the questions related to Health and Family Welfare ministry. The Chairman, Mohammed Hamid Ansari has expressed concern over the situation. Earlier in the current session, 34 members in the Lok Sabha against whom the questions were listed, were not present. The Congress on Tuesday said that the party has taken note of the absence of members in the House. Talking to reporters outside the Parliament, party spokesperson Mrs Jayanti Natrajan said that party President Sonia Gandhi has instructed the members to be regular at sessions. Mrs Natrajan's comment comes after a number of members with questions marked against their names were absent during the question hour in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Last week, Lok Sabha was adjourned for half an hour after 34 members who were scheduled to ask supplementaries were absent.<br/><br/>Expressing concern on the absence of members during question hour, BJP leader Venkaiyah Naidu said that the main responsibility of ensuring attendance lies with the ruling party. Talking to reporters outside the Parliament today, Mr Naidu said that the rules committee of Rajya Sabha is considering restructuring of question hour. Spelling out the suggestions mooted by the party, Mr Naidu said that the party has requested the questions to be made a property of the House so that they can be put forward even if the member is absent.<br/><br/>In a separate discussion, the BJP on Tuesday demanded an enquiry into the alleged forced landing of chopper in poor visibility by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Talking to reporters outside the Parliament on Tuesday, BJP leader Prakash Javdekar said that DGCA should enquire in to the incident. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that the landing was not in adverse situation and it was the pilot's decision to land. He also said that being a pilot himself was aware of the suitability of the situation.<br/>
News On AIR | December 8, 2009 2:31 PM
Absence of members in RS, LS raises concern