Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon
New Delhi, July 27 dmanewsdesk: Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for almost an hour till 12 noon on Tuesday as a determined Opposition continued to protest against snooping of political opponents of the ruling BJP, journalists and government critics as well as over farm laws.
Congress, TMC and other opposition party MPs rushed into the well of the House, shouting slogans against mass surveillance and farm laws.
Slogan-shouting by the MPs, who also carried placards, drowned the voices of ministers and others who were called to lay official papers on the table of the House.
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu expressed concern over the continued disruption of the proceedings since the start of the monsoon session last week.
He appealed to the members to rethink their strategy, before adjourning the proceedings till 12.00 hours.
No sooner had the House condoled the death of former member Wasim Ahmad, former prime minister of Mauritius Anerood Jugnauth and Zambia’s first president Kenneth David Buchizhya Kaunda, the opposition MPs rushed into the well shouting slogans.
Some members said they have given notices under rule 267 seeking suspension of the listed business of the day to take up a discussion on the issues they were raising.
As the slogan-shouting disrupted the proceedings, Naidu said today is the sixth scheduled sitting of the monsoon session.
“We are yet to get into business mode,” he said. “I am concerned over media reports that some sections of the House have decided not to allow the functioning of the House for the remainder of the session.”
Asking the members to introspect over such an attitude, he said this is what is being made out of parliamentary democracy.
“Parliament is meant for making laws, to discuss public issues (but) nothing is being allowed,” he said, adding that important bills are listed for discussion and passing.
He referred to eight bills being passed in 17 minutes in the past.
“Unfortunately, Parliament is being reduced to such a sorry state of affairs,” Naidu said. “Leaders of parties have voiced their concern over the ongoing state of affairs of this august House and being deprived of raising issues of public concern.”
He said members are being deprived of making zero-hour submissions of public importance, making special mentions and raising questions.
“You are harming the interest of the country, yourself and also the interest of Parliament,” he said. “I appeal to all of you to please rethink about this attitude. See to it that the discussion takes place.”
As the slogan-shouting continued, he remarked that the chair does not accept dictation or dramatics.
“I will never accept such dictation by anybody. Dictation or dramatics is not going to be accepted by the chair, whosoever is in the chair,” he said before adjourning the proceedings till 12.00 hours.
Source: PTI
