Russian MPs want to intro Indian Par procedures

New Delhi, May 1: Impressed by the Indian parliamentary procedures, Russian MPs want to introduce them in their Parliament as Russia moves towards a multi-party democracy.

''We are very much impressed the way open discussions on important subjects take place in Indian Parliament.... We want to incorporate that,'' senator Nokolai Tulaev says. Mr Tulaev is heading a three-member delegation of senators from the Russian Federation Council. The senators are also impressed by the healthy interaction between the government and the Parliamentarians which, they say, is lacking in Russia.

The delegation has met Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rehman and seen the working of the two Houses.

They learnt the peculiarities of the legislative process, including the procedure of adoption of financial statues and constitutional amendments.

Mr Tulaev says they will invite Indian MPs to participate in the 15th anniversary of the Russian Parliament to be held in October this year.

Mr Chatterjee also says the two countries can share their experiences in the working of a parliamentary democracy.

Earlier this month, a delegation of young parliamentarians from the Duma was in the capital to cement ties with their counterparts here in the 'Year of Russian in India' Delegation member Elena Afanasyeva had said she was intrigued by the question hour system, where ministers had to reply directly, and would suggest something like that back home.

UNI