India
Sitting in his Mercedes Benz SUV, Shrirang Barne dictated a string of questions to his personal assistant. Just two days ago, on his visit to Uran, farmers had complained about non-fulfilment of a promise made during the 1970 land acquisition to return 12.5 per cent of the land acquired. Barne decided to take it up in Parliament.
Updated : Mar 26, 2015, 06:00 AM IST
Sitting in his Mercedes Benz SUV, Shrirang Barne dictated a string of questions to his personal assistant. Just two days ago, on his visit to Uran, farmers had complained about non-fulfilment of a promise made during the 1970 land acquisition to return 12.5 per cent of the land acquired. Barne decided to take it up in Parliament.
This would be his 255th question if it goes through the lots. Since the Modi government came to power in May 2014, Barne, a 51-year-old first time MP, has already asked 254 questions in the Lok Sabha, according to PRS legislative research figures. The only other MP who equalled his score is his party colleague Shivaji Adhalrao Patil, a third time MP from Shirur.
Interestingly, close on their heels are other MPs from their state- NCP's Supriya Sule, who has asked 241 questions, and Dhananjay Bhimrao Mahadik with 232 questions. With the current Lok Sabha having had 74 sittings so far, these MPs asked about three questions daily. The national average of questions asked in the House by MPs is 56; that of members from Maharashtra is 118.
Barne says he puts in ten questions for each day of the session, the maximum an MP can ask, and gives zero hour notices every day. Barne has also participated in 26 debates against the national average of 13.2. Patil has participated in seven.
While Barne has studied up to tenth class, Patil has done his intermediary. Both have raised questions about the new education policy, shortage of primary teachers and higher education, to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and environment issues.
On a trip to Chandrapur (Vidarbha) as an observer, Barne saw children who suffered from malnutrition. He was ready with his next question-- when will India be free of malnutrition?