New Delhi, July 24 (IANS): Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi Thursday questioned why the government is not taking up legislative business even though so many bills are pending.
"Government is not taking up any legislative business even though so many bills are pending... What is this government doing," Chaturvedi asked, raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha.
Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said the Congress leader need not be worried about the issue as it is the government's responsibility.
"Why are you worried," Kurien questioned Chaturvedi.
Intervening in the matter, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar said the government will first pass the budget.
"This is a sheer display of political frustration. The government has to pass the budget, government's hands are full," said Javadekar.
According to PRS Legislative research, when the 15th Lok Sabha finished its term, 128 bills remained pending in parliament. Of these, 68 bills pending in the Lok Sabha lapsed with its dissolution.
As many as 60 bills are currently pending in the Rajya Sabha.
In this session, the government has so far passed a bill to amend the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act and a bill to transfer land from Telangana to residual of Andhra Pradesh.