The deadlock continues between the ruling party and the opposition in Parliament
The proceedings of both the houses were disrupted due to the uproar of the opposition
The ruckus of opposition members in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over Pegasus espionage case and some other issues continued on Thursday as there was a standoff between the ruling party and the opposition. The proceedings of the Lok Sabha were adjourned for the day at around 2.30 pm after three adjournments due to sloganeering by the members of the opposition parties. While the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were also adjourned for the day after two adjournments due to the uproar by the opposition.
The Question Hour proceedings continued for half an hour amid the uproar in the Lok Sabha and the House also approved two bills. These bills include the ‘Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ and the ‘Inland Ships Bill, 2021’. During this, members of some opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress continued to make noise. Opposition members held placards with demands related to the Pegasus espionage case and the abolition of three central agricultural laws. Earlier this morning, due to a heated argument between the ruling party and the opposition over the paper-tossing incident by some members of Congress in the House a day earlier, it was about five minutes after the commencement of the House at 11:30 am. Had to postpone. When the proceedings of the House resumed at 11:30 am, Presiding Chairman Rajendra Agrawal conducted the Question Hour amid ruckus by the opposition members. During this, Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia also answered the supplementary questions of the members. Thereafter, the Presiding Chairman got the necessary papers laid on the Table. He appealed to the members to return to their places but the uproar continued. Seeing that the noise did not stop, the presiding chairman adjourned the proceedings of the house till 12:30 at around 12.05. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed his anguish over Wednesday’s incident as the proceedings of the House began and warned the members that he would take action in future if the incidents which were adverse to the dignity of Parliament were repeated. He said that he was deeply pained by the incident that happened in the House on July 28. Throwing pamphlets and papers towards the seat is not in accordance with our parliamentary conventions. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia placed the ‘Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ for discussion and passing when the proceedings began at 2 pm. The House approved the bill by voice vote during the uproar. After this, Minister of Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal placed the Inland Vessel Bill for discussion and passage. The House approved the bill by voice vote without any discussion. After this, the presiding chairman Kirit Solanki adjourned the proceedings of the house for the day.
How will democracy survive: Birla
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla told the ruckus MPs that if we do not take care of the dignity of Parliament, then how will parliamentary democracy survive. He said that it is our endeavor to give adequate time and opportunity to the members to speak and they should be respected. Lok Sabha Speaker asked the members whether you consider yesterday’s incident in line with the dignity of Parliament, do you consider it justified, Birla said that it is the collective responsibility of all of us to maintain the dignity of Parliament because you (MP) are a person. Rather, it is an institution and represents millions of people. He said that the conduct of some members towards the chair yesterday was inappropriate. Members should take care of their conduct and limits. During this, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that the government is adamant on its insistence and is not allowing the opposition to keep its word.
Opposition uproar in Rajya Sabha, proceedings adjourned for the day
The standoff between the government and the opposition in the Rajya Sabha continued on Thursday as the Upper House was adjourned for the day after two adjournments due to uproar by members of the opposition parties over various issues. However, after a brief discussion amid the uproar, the Factor Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed and the Coconut Development Board (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced. As soon as the proceedings of the House began at 2 pm after the second adjournment, Deputy Chairman Harivansh called on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to introduce the Factors Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Finance Minister had not even introduced the bill for discussion when once again the members of other opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and Left parties approached the Speaker’s podium and started shouting slogans. Introducing the bill in the midst of the ruckus, Sitharaman said that this bill will benefit Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He urged the members to pass this bill. As the uproar in the House continued, some members who took part in the discussion laid their statements on the Bill on the Table of the House. Shivpratap Shukla of Bharatiya Janata Party, K R Suresh Reddy of Telangana Rashtra Samithi, M Thambi Durai of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and K Ravindra Kumar of YSR Congress supported the bill. In the midst of the uproar, Sitaraman replied to the brief discussion and within 14 minutes the bill was passed by voice vote. Soon after the passage of this bill, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar introduced the Coconut Development Board (Amendment) Bill, 2021. Though the commotion continued in the House, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House for the day.
