15th Lok Sabha comes to an end

A day after Parliament passed the contentious Telangana Bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the country had the capacity to rise above partisan politics to enact crucial laws in the national interest. Dr. Singh said in his closing remarks in the Lok Sabha (on Feb 21, 2014), the last day of the 15th Lok Sabha that, the passage of the Telangana Bill indicated that this country can take difficult decisions. The House was later adjourned sine die. Dr. Singh hoped that a new sense of consensus would emerge “out of this strife and tension that prevailed in the atmosphere at times.”

In his speech, Leader of the House Mr. Sushilkumar Shinde said members from the government and the Opposition might vociferously vent their differences inside Parliament, but these sentiments were not carried outside. Appreciating the Opposition, particularly the Leader of the Opposition Ms. Sushma Swaraj, Mr. Shinde said they took together decisions on a number of landmark laws. He also drew the attention of the House over the manner in which the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act was passed unanimously.

As she spoke for the last time, Ms. Swaraj praised UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for her gracefulness and BJP leader L.K. Advani, whose eyes welled up, for his judiciousness. She said when the 15th Lok Sabha’s history was written, it would say that while there were the most interruptions, much-awaited Bills were also passed. Speaker Meira Kumar said she was pained by the frequent disruptions, and hoped that logic would replace pandemonium.

 While 23% of the Bills passed by the Parliament in the 15th Lok Sabha were discussed for more than 3 hours, 18% were passed with less than 5 minutes of discussion

• In an embarrassment, ex-Rail Minister Mr. Dinesh Trivedi’s budget rolled back, had to quit office.
• Mega graft cases ruled the House: 2G, CWG, Coalgate, Railways Promotion, Tatra trucks Agusta Wsetland Chopper, Antrix-Devas, Adarsh and others

Big Guns’ Report Card:-

Leader	L. K. Advani	Sushma Swaraj	Sonia Gandhi	Rahul Gandhi
Party	BJP	BJP	INC	INC
Attendance	96%	94%	47%	42%
Debate	39	108	2	2
Questions Asked	0	43	0	0