Monsoon session of Parliament to end today

New Delhi, Aug 7 (ANI): After a month long session that commenced on July 2, the budget cum monsoon session of the 15th Lok Sabha will end today.

Along with annual Railway Budget and General Budget for the year 2009-10, a number of important Bills, including the Right to Free and Compulsory Education, were passed by Parliament.

Parliament also witnessed stormy scenes and debate over the Sharm -el-Sheikh joint statement, and Mayawati and Rita Bahuguna Joshi case, the furore over the proposed division of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee, the attack on Indian students in Australia, the Buta Singh's bribery case, the Lalgarh operation and the Shopian murder case, etc.

There was, however no major discussion on the Delhi High Court's ruling on Section 377 of the IPC regarding the treatment of homosexual behaviour as being criminal.

Parliament also witnessed the return of senior Socialist leader George Fernandes to the Rajya Sabha. New and young MPs participated in debates and also raised the questions. Rahul Gandhi, Supriya Sule, Sachin Pilot, Kalikesh Singh Deo impressed their seniors with their oratorial skills.

The UPA Government indefinitely postponed the re-introduction of the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Bill in Parliament in deference to the wishes of Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee. (ANI)