NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die today. In his valedictory remarks, Chairman Mohammed Hamid Ansari said the just concluded Session was a short and challenging one.He said, members showed an extraordinary ability to debate and dissent to accommodate and differ amidst their political compulsions and ideological positions.
Earlier, the House bid farewell to 53 of its members from 14 states who are retiring between June and July this year.They included 13 from Congress, 11 from BJP, six from BSP, five from JD(U), three each from AIADMK and Samajwadi Party, two each from TDP, DMK, BJD and NCP, one each from Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal and two Independents.
The prominent retirees included Union Ministers, M Venkaiah Naidu, Nirmala Seetharaman, Piyush Goel and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, all BJP.The notable retirees from the Congress included Mohisina Kidwai, Ambika Soni, Oscar Fernandes and Jairam Ramesh.
In his farewell address, Chairman Mohammed Hamid Ansari said, every retiring member has contributed significantly to the functioning of the House. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, the Rajya Sabha has the privilege to bid farewell to its retiring members unlike the Lok Sabha.
He said, the members had the opportunity to experience two successive governments in the last six years. They were party to all major decisions.But Mr Modi regretted that the House could not clear the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2016. He underlined that the GST Bill would have immensely benefited all the states, especially Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The House had 15 sittings during which it deliberated for over 69 hours. It passed or returned 12 government bills. The House had two Short Duration discussions on drought and AgustaWestland Chopper Deal.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that the productivity of Lok Sabha in the just concluded Budget Session was over 117 per cent. The Rajya Sabha registered around 87 per cent productivity.
Briefing media in New Delhi today, he said the Lok Sabha passed ten Bills and the Rajya Sabha approved 12 legislations. The major Bills passed during the session included the Finance Bill and the Railways Appropriation Bill.
Both the Houses also approved the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, the Mines and Minerals Bill and the Anti-Hijacking Bill.Referring to the 45 Bills still pending in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passing, Mr Naqvi said special efforts will be made to clear this backlog in consultation with all parties. He expressed hope that the GST Bill will be through in the next session of Parliament.

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