Parliament becoming irrelevant: Gurudas Dasgupta

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) Expressing concern over what he described as ''Parliament becoming irrelevant,'' CPI leader in the Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta today demanded that the supreme instituion of Indian democracy should meet for at least 100 days in a year as recommended by the Speakers' Forum.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he alleged that the functioning of Parliament was becoming too inconvenient for the party in power, adding the ongoing winter session, reduced to 11 working days, was going to be the shortest in 9 years.

After Railway Minister Lalu Prasad intervened and asked who remained in the House after the Question Hour and it was a matter for consideration, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi too stood up and strongly challenged the CPI's leader claim that Parliament was becoming irrelevant.

Mr Dasmunsi also contested Mr Dasgupta's contention of the current winter session being shortest in 9 years,saying Parliament had even witnessed a 5-day winter session. But the Minister, at the same time, said his government had been endeavouring to respond to the Speakers Forum's suggestion for a 100-day session and trying its best to implement it.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said he was going to call a meeting of leaders of various political parties in Parliament to consider the issue.

UNI