New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said Tuesday that the government was striving to increase the number sittings of parliament.
“It is our endeavour to see that functioning of parliament becomes more meaningful. We will also endeavour to increase the sittings of parliament,” he told reporters at the conclusion of the winter session.

Answering queries, Bansal said there was a private member’s bill in the Rajya Sabha seeking that parliament sits for 120 days in a year. The government, he said, was keen on having maximum sittings while also ensuring that work of standing committees was not compromised.

The gap between two sessions of parliament was usually between two and three months, he said.

Bansal said it was difficult to tackle din in the house. “Din is among the most difficult things. It should be addressed by all political parties,” he said.

Asked about Congress members disrupting proceedings of the Lok Sabha on the issue of proposed statehood to Telangana, Bansal said they had stood up at their seats but did not force an adjournment of the house.

About some bills having been passed by the Lok Sabha without discussion, Bansal said he agreed with the contention that the bills should be debated.

However, he said, the government was left with no alternative but to get the bills passed if the proceedings are disrupted due to din. “It is imperative that the bills are passed.”