New Delhi: A five-day-long special session of Parliament began on Monday (September 18) in the old building. Both Houses of Parliament held discussions on the parliament’s journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha – achievements, experiences, memories, and learnings.
The Parliament will shift to the new building from Tuesday, the second day of the Special Session of Parliament, which will continue till September 22.
Meanwhile, the bill to form a panel for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners was dropped from the list of legislative business after the opposition resisted the bill.
Other bills listed under the session’s ‘Legislative Business’ in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, include The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, and The Post Office Bill, 2023.
Parliament special session: All you need to know
- Opening the session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that the Parliament proceedings will shift to the new building from September 19, Tuesday.
- PM Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on the first day of the special parliament session and last at the old building. Modi said, “This old Parliament building was built with sweat, hardwork and money of our countrymen.” “We will go to the new Parliament building but the existing one will always inspire the coming generation.”
- PM Modi praised the success of the Chandryaan-3 mission and the G20 summit during his address. “Today, you have unanimously appreciated the success of G20…I express my gratitude to you. G20’s success is that of 140 crore citizens of the country. It is India’s success, not that of an individual or a party…It is a matter for all of us to celebrate.”
- Rajya Sabha LoP and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that former Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru laid the foundation for India, adding that no one can see the stones used in the foundation. He said that Nehru believed that the absence of a strong Opposition meant significant drawbacks to the system.
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“Nehru ji believe that the absence of a strong Opposition means that there are significant drawbacks in the system. If there is no strong Opposition, it is not right. Now, that there is a strong Opposition, focus is on weakening it through ED, CBI…” Kharge said.
- Kharge urged Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to revoke the suspension of AAP MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha. It doesn’t look nice that two MPs are outside when the House is discussing such an important issue, the Congress leader said. I urge you that it doesn’t look proper (to start the session while) keeping two MPs out, he said.
- In the Lok Sabha, LoP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury remembered the contributions of Pt. Nehru and called him the ‘architect of modern India’.
- Bidding farewell to the old building, Chowdhury said, “It is really an emotional moment for all of us to move out from this (old) Parliament building today. We are all present here to bid adieu to our old building.”