Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 3 (IANS) After the Rajya Sabha shifted its question hour to the afternoon to save it from adjournments, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said the lower house may also follow suit, but only after consensus.

She also pitched for extending the number of sittings of the house.

“The present timing of question hour is at 11 a.m. It should either run in an orderly manner, and if not, the timing should be changed for ensuring the smooth conduct of the parliamentary proceedings,” the speaker said in an interview to Doordarshan.

She, however, clarified that no decision will be take until a consensus is there among the members.

“I would want a consensus on the issue,” she said.

Meira Kumar, who completed two years as the first woman Lok Sabha speaker, also advocated for raising the number of days the house sits to 100 every year.

“Lok Sabha proceedings should be increased from the current 70 days to 100 days. There is a need for sufficient time for having a debate on multitude of problems facing a vast country like India,” she said.

She also expressed her concerns over the growing influence of money power in politics.

“I am concerned about the increasing influence of money and muscle power in politics. This must be stopped and whoever enters Lok Sabha should completely dedicate themselves for the nation selflessly,” she said.

Asked about her experience as speaker, Meira Kumar said in these two years she had experiences enough rivalling those in her entire life.

“I had a variety of experiences. I have learned a lot, to run a house is a big responsibility as well as a big challenge.”