Question Hour Controversy: Modi Government Allots 30 Minutes Per Day For Asking Questions In Upcoming Monsoon Session Of Parliament After Huge Opposition Uproar

Amid massive criticism from the opposition for suspending the question hour and zero hour in the upcoming Parliament Session, the centre on September 3 revised its decision. The Monsoon Session of Parliament will now have 30 minutes of question hour per day, the government statement said. However, the Centre stated that only unstarred questions will be taken.

Question Hour is the one hour that Members of Parliament ask questions to ministers and hold them accountable for the functioning of their ministries. In the sessions of House convened under regular circumstances, one hour is allotted for the question hour daily. This time, the question hour has been curtailed in view of the pending business activity and the dearth of available hours of proceedings. Opposition parties had lashed out at the government for suspending question hour, zero hour and the right to move private members’ Bill.

Congress, Trinamool Congress, CPI(M), AIUDF and AIMIM had, over the last couple of days criticised the government for cancelling the question hour altogether. Notably, the Parliament session will begin from September 14 and continue till October 1. A total of 18 consecutive sittings will be held with no off-days in between. MPs have been told to get themselves tested for COVID-19 at least 72 hours before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.