The Confederation of India Industry (CII) has made its disapproval of the logjam in Parliament public saying key bills were pending in the house and a discussion was necessary.


CII president Sumit Mazumdar said today that stalling Parliament delays crucial decision making and Parliament should convene and discuss the bills. "Parliament holds the key to unlocking the investment pipeline. GST is a key reform and to pass it Parliament must transact business," Mazumdar said.


Twenty five of Congress party's 44 members in Lok Sabha were suspended on Monday for five days for causing disruptions, setting the stage for escalation in confrontation, as nine opposition parties decided to boycott the House for these days to express solidarity with the suspended members.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan took the decision, the first such major action in the present Lok Sabha, against the members for "persistently, wilfully obstructing" the House by displaying placards and shouting slogans.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi described it as a "black day for democracy".

The Speaker, after several warnings, 'named' (identifying for action) the 25 Congress members who were in the Well demanding resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over the Lalit Modi row and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Vyapam scam.


The important bills pending for passage in Monsoon session include the Goods and Services Tax Bill, Land Bill, Real Estate Regulator Bill, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill to replace an Ordinance etc. Of these, four major bills GST, Protection of Whistleblowers, Juvenile Justice and Repealing of Appropriation Acts have  already been passed by the Lok Sabha, and are awaiting discussion and passage in the Rajya Sabha.


Pic: Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi led the protests outside Parliament.