Turmoil-ridden Monsoon Session of Parliament ends

The turmoil-ridden Monsoon Session of parliament came to an end on Friday after most of its sittings were washed out over the controversial coal block allocation issue with BJP remaining unrelenting on its demand for resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The second-worst session since the 2009 Lok Sabha elections functioned for only six out of 19 days and was paralysed for remaining period due to the stand-off between government and BJP.

The worst session was the Winter Session of 2010 which was a complete washout due to the Opposition demand for setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee in to the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

"This Session is likely to be remembered for the work that was not done," observed Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari while adjourning the House sine die.

Minutes before, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned Lok Sabha sine die without making the customary concluding address. The prime minister and Leader of Lok Sabha Sushil Kumar Shinde were present when the house was adjourned.

Observing that the data on work done was "in no need of commentary", Ansari regretted that 62 hours were lost in the din during the session which began on August 8. Only three bills could be passed. While question hour was taken up once in the 19-day session, only 11 out of 399 starred questions could be taken up.

The Constitution amendment bill for providing reservation in promotions to SCs and STs was introduced amid high drama with the upper house proceedings witnessing a new low with SP and BSP members coming to fisticuffs.

The measure could not be taken up for consideration and passage, despite being listed for the last three days due to vociferous protests by SP and Shiv Sena. BSP supremo Mayawati's suggestion to extend the session for passage of the bill did not find favour among other parties.