No platform other than the Parliament could be more powerful to raise the voice of the voiceless – to inform the government and the nation about the grievances of the common people, the minorities, the downtrodden. Yet, Muslim Lok Sabha Members do not use the platform as much as they are expected to. Their performance during Lok Sabha session July-Aug 2009 was disappointing as majority of 30 Muslim MPs did not ask any question, nor did they take part in debate. Debutants also remained silent except Badruddin Ajmal, Dhubri MP and chief of Assam United Democratic Front. He asked six questions and also took part in debate.
Senior Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi led from front as he asked 47 questions, far ahead from other Muslim MPs. Following is a report card of Muslim Lok Sabha MPs in the recent session of the House.
Type of Questions
Questions are of three types:-
Starred, Unstarred and Short Notice Questions
A Starred Question is one to which a member desires an oral answer in the House and which is distinguished by an asterisk mark. When a question is answered orally, supplementary questions can be asked thereon. Only 20 questions can be listed for oral answer on a day.
An Unstarred Question: is one which is not called for oral answer in the House and on which no supplementary questions can consequently be asked. To such a question, a written answer is deemed to have been laid on the Table after the Question Hour by the Minister to whom it is addressed. It is printed in the official report of the sitting of the House for which it is put down. Only 230 questions can be listed for written answer on a day.
A Short Notice Question is one which relates to a matter of urgent public importance and can be asked with shorter notice than the period of notice prescribed for an ordinary question. Like a starred question, it is answered orally followed by supplementary questions.
Name: Mr. Abdul Mannan Hossain
Age: 57
Constituency: Murshidabad (West Bengal )
Party name: Indian National Congress(INC)
No. of questions: 0
No. of debates: 0
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[With inputs from Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net Patna correspondent]
