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Lok Sabha adjourned sine-die
February 26, 2009.
The Last Session of the 14th Lok Sabha came to an end on Thursday with the House adjourning sine-die. As many as 258 legislations including the land mark Right to information and National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme were enacted during its 332 sittings.
In his concluding remarks, the Speaker Mr. Somnath Chatterjee also referred to the two memorable occasions of celebrating the 150th anniversary of the country's 1st War of Independence and 60th year of Independence in the Central Hall of Parliament. Mr. Chatterjee regretted that the Women's Reservation Bill had not been passed during his tenure. He said the bill would have gone a long way towards effective empowerment of women. He was however hopeful that all political parties will reach unanimity for a clear consensus on the issue in the next Lok Sabha.
`He regretted that politics of intense confrontation has gained the upper hand and 24 per cent of the time of the house was lost due to disruptions and adjournments which he said was alarming. Mr. Chatterjee also referred to several painful decisions he had to take including the expulsion of ten members of the House for their involvement in the cash for queries scam.
Earlier, the Prime Minister in his message to the House read out by External Affairs Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee said that he is hopeful that India will emerge as the least affected country from the global financial crises. He said the country had seen the fastest growth rate in the last four years. He also said that Indo-US Civil Nuclear deal, another land mark achievement, ended India's nuclear isolation.
The Prime Minister also described the enactment of RTI, NREGA and legislation for providing Social Security to the workers of the unorganized sectors as path breaking initiatives by the UPA. He said that the government during its tenure tried to enhance the democratic process in the country. Dr. Manmohan Singh also thanked the President and the Members of the House for their best wishes for his health.
The leader of the opposition, Mr. L.K.Advani said that the success of the parliamentary democracy was the biggest achievement of independent India. He also wished Dr. Manmohan Singh speedy recovery.
The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned sine-die.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that the office of Lok Sabha Speaker has been truly elevated and dignified by Somnath Chatterjee, who set himself as a role model. The Prime Minister's brief statement was read out by leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee on the last day of the last session of 14th Lok SAbha. Dr. Singh also thanked the leader of opposition Mr. L.K. Advani for always being constructive in spite of occasional disagreements.
AIR correspondent Sarita Brara reports that it was not just the concluding speech of the speaker at end of a session , it was an emotional farewell address to the House to which Mr Somnath Chatterji has been associated for over 38 years from a fresh enterant in the 5th Lok Sabha when he was alloted seat number 512 from where as he recalled listening to in awe the speeches of some of the outstanding parlimentarians to the Presideing officer of in the 14th Lok Sabha when members saw him conmduct the House with rare impartiality , upholding the the dignity of the House , the principles of constitution and protecting the rights of the members irrespective of their party affiliations . There were times when he had to taken painful decisions like expulsion of some members, there were angry moments when he had to adjourn the house , there were happy moments of celebrations of the 15oth anniversary of India's first war of independence and 60th year of independencve in the central hall of parliament, or when land mark bills like RTI and Narega were passed . Yes Dada had one regret he wished the womens reservation Bill had been passed during his tenure as the women in this copuntry would have wished for.
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