By IANS,
New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal Thursday said it was very unfortunate that question hour could not be conducted even six days after the session began.
Both houses were adjourned during question hour Thursday following opposition MPs massing around the podium to protest the fuel price hike.
“What can the government do, if MPs enter the well of the house. It is very unfortunate that the question hour could not be conducted,” Bansal told IANS.
Parliament has been in session for six days but question hour, which kicks off the daily proceedings, is yet to be held. The session commenced on Feb 22.
On the first day, the question hour was not held because of President Pratibha Patil’s address to a joint session of the two houses.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, question hour could not be conducted because opposition protests over rising prices forced the adjournment of the two houses.
On Thursday, it was suspended as both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha discussed rising food prices.
On Friday, there was no question hour because of the presentation of the general budget.
On Nov 30 last year, question hour in the Lok Sabha collapsed for the first time in two decades as only three MPs who had listed questions were present. Thirty-four members who had listed questions were absent.
Later, the rules committees of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha amended rules on question hour to ensure it proceeds without interruption even if the member who asked the question is absent.