Govt delaying formation of House panels, says Congress

Opposition parties have accused the BJP-led government of delay in reconstituting Parliament’s Department-related Standing Committees (DRSCs). They have claimed that the delay has affected the functioning of the panels, which have been discussing threadbare several of the Centre’s policies, including the decision to demonetise high-denomination currency.

The BJP has refuted the allegation, and said the “democratic process” of nominating members to various panels was on. The panels, the ruling party said, would be formed very soon. The Opposition fears that the BJP’s attempt is to take control of most of the panels so that criticism against the Centre could be curbed.

In September last year, the Lok Sabha Secretariat had released the complete list of members of various DRSCs, which are constituted for a year.

The Opposition says that there is a delay of one week. “This is unprecedented,” said the Congress’ whip in the Lok Sabha, KC Venugopal. He added that none of the standing committees could meet in September. “The Centre is responsible for this. We have given our list of names, but the BJP is yet to give theirs. For example, the standing committee on finance is discussing the after-effects of demonetisation. The BJP apparently wants to delay such discussions,” Venugopal added.

The BJP said the delay is natural. “Parties discuss among themselves and with other parties on the constitution of committees. It is a democratic process. The Congress is making false accusations,” BJP’s chief whip Rakesh Singh told BusinessLine. He said the full list would soon be announced. Other House committees had already been formed.

A senior Lok Sabha MP, on the condition of anonymity, said such delay is unusual. “Usually, the Lok Sabha Secretariat announces the list in the last week of August or in the first week of September,” he said, and added that both the Congress and the BJP have delayed their list of names this year. “Both have to be blamed for the delay,” the source added.

Tussle in the Rajya Sabha In the Rajya Sabha, the Congress and the BJP have staked claim for the chairmanship of the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice. Congress leader Anand Sharma is the Chairman of the panel at present.

The BJP, citing that it is the single-largest party in the Upper House, has demanded to Chairman Venkaiah Naidu that the panel be headed by a person from the treasury benches. The Congress has opposed this and has alleged that the BJP is trying to deny the chairmanship as the panel has taken up important issues such as the electoral reforms.

COMMENT NOW