Govt drops special session plan

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 24: Apprehending demands for sweeping changes in the Constitution from members of the ruling alliance, the Government ...

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 24: Apprehending demands for sweeping changes in the Constitution from members of the ruling alliance, the Government has dropped plans of having a special session of the Parliament from January 26 next year, marking 50 years of Indian Republic.

The BJP-led Government had convened a special three-day session from August 15 last year to commemorate golden jubilee of country8217;s Independence. The session witnessed a free-wheeling discussion on the progress made during past 50 years and the measures needed to speed up development of the country.

The BJP as well as some partners of the ruling coalition, wanted to have a similar session to discuss relevance of the Constitution framed 50 years ago and whether there was a need to change its basic framework.

Knowing well that such a demand would be vehemently opposed by the opposition and the session would be chaotic, the Government is learnt to have shelved its plans for the special session.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan,admitted that there was a plan for a special session to commemorate golden jubilee of Indian Republic but gave other reasons for dropping the plan.

8220;As a convention first session of year 8212; normally budget session of the Parliament acirc;euro;ldquo; opens with Presidential address followed by a vote of thanks to the President. Since the special session should have been subject-specific, there was no scope for a discussion on vote of thanks8221;, Mahajan told The Indian Express.

After addressing the Parliament at the start of the special session, the President was supposed to deliver his customary address at the beginning of the budget session. That would mean two lengthy discussions on vote of thanks to the President, said another senior BJP leader.

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But hardliners within the party term the reasons as quot;only lame-duck excusesquot; being offered by the Government to avoid the quot;embarrassmentquot; of facing demands of Constitutional reforms.

8220;Our Constitution has a British lineage and was suited for a colonial regime. Its a pitythat we have failed to have a Constitution tailor-made for our needs even after 52 years of independence8221;, said a senior lawyer.