New Delhi, Aug 10: Newly-elected Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Thursday presided over the House only to immediately adjourn it till 1400 hrs after lunch.
Addressing the House after being elected to the elevated position, the journalist-turned politician assured members of full cooperation in running the House under rules and procedures and said that he will try to conduct the proceedings in the country’s age-old tradition of `debate and dialogue’.
“I assure members that I will try to run the House in a better and unbiased manner. We will try to find a path within rules and procedures after taking into account all points of views,’’ he said in response to pleas from non-BJP and non-Congress parties that they should be given more time to place their views during debates and discussions.
Recalling his association with Jayaprakash Narayan and former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar, Mr Harivansh said he came from a small village situated between Ganga and Ghaghra rivers and during time of floods were not sure of whether they would be able to see the dawn of next day. The village lacked approachable road and electricity.
“From such a place I have reached Lutyen’s Delhi because of all you members,’’ he told the House.
He said he was touched and influenced by JP’s response when some people asked him to use his influence to get their village electrified. ‘JP said I will get electricity to one village but what of the 5.5 crore other villages that lacked electricity?”
Pointing to experienced members, Mr Harivansh said he was ‘scared’ before the august House but that will only make him perform better.
Mr Harivansh was the official candidate of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. He got elected to the post with 125 votes against 105 scored by his rival Congress candidate B K Hariprasad.
