Upper House Chairman Urges Meaningful Debate as Session Ends with Low Productivity

Vice President and Rajya Sabha (Upper House) Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, in his valedictory remarks, expressed concern over the Winter Session's productivity, which was just 40.03%, with the house functioning effectively for just 43 hours and 27 minutes. He highlighted the criticism faced by parliamentarians from the citizens and stressed the need for restoring the "sanctity of parliamentary discourse." Despite passing the Oilfields Amendment Bill and the Boilers’ Bill of 2024, and hearing a statement on India-China relations, Dhankhar noted that disruptions were undermining public trust in democratic institutions. He called for a renewed commitment to serve the nation with dignity. "It is time to choose between meaningful debate and destructive disruption. Our democratic legacy demands we rise above political differences and restore the sanctity of parliamentary discourse," Dhankhar said.