After last week's incident when a key meeting on air pollution had to be postponed after some MPs failed to show up, Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday (18 November) appealed to parties to ensure that members attend the Parliamentary Standing Committee meetings regularly.

In his address to the Rajya Sabha on the opening day of the Winter Session, Naidu, referring to last week's incident, said that Standing Committees of Parliament do "purposeful work".

"I appeal to all to see that members of any committee, please attend the meetings regularly, and enrich the discussions," he said.

Last Friday, a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee to discuss the rising levels of air pollution in the national capital was postponed as most participants, including East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir and civic officials, were absent.

Out of 29 members in the committee, only four were present. From Delhi, BJP's cricketer-turned-politician Gambhir and Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh were supposed to attend. Singh was present, along with Jagdambika Pal, who heads the panel, C R Patil and Hasnain Masoodi.

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