News Analysis India

Tag: Rajya Sabha

  • TMC hits back at Centre as ministers blame Opposition for unruly scenes in Rajya Sabha

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The TMC has posed eight questions to the Centre in response to a press conference by eight Union ministers on Thursday blaming the Opposition for the unruly scenes witnessed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

    Putting the blame squarely on the Opposition, the ministers said the Rajya Sabha chairman must take the strongest possible action against those who broke rules.

    In a tweet, leader of the TMC in the Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien said: “8 Ministers just addressed a press conference. To them we ask. Answer even one of these 8 questions. Try. Then talk to us about #Parliament. The United Opposition have a strong case. You are full of faff.”

    At a press conference, O’Brien, along with TMC’s Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy and vice-president of the party Yashwant Sinha, hit out at the government, saying it should respond to these questions regarding the “operating procedures” of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

    “What option does the Opposition have in a parliamentary democracy when the government crosses all limits? Do we still sit on our seats and suck lollipops? We represent more than 60 per cent of the people of India. Remember, the BJP got 37 per cent votes in the 2019 (Lok Sabha) election,” O’Brien said.

    The party asked where the prime minister and the home minister were while the session was underway.

    “Why couldn’t they find time to come and be present in Parliament to listen to us? Two former prime ministers, Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda, were present in the houses and actively participated in the proceedings.

    “The Opposition wanted a discussion on internal security, (the) Pegasus (snooping row) and the NSO connection, but the government did not allow it. We also wanted a debate on the farmers’ protests, but even that did not happen. Why?” O’Brien asked.

    The TMC leaders said a total of 39 bills were passed in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, without any debate.

    “This is not how a democratic country works. The average time of passing a bill was 10 minutes and then you say that the Opposition is disrupting the session,” Roy said.

    The TMC leaders pointed out that even in 2014, 60-70 per cent of the bills were sent to parliamentary committees for a review and claimed that now, only 11 per cent of the bills are sent to these panels.

    Raising another question on the use of ordinances by the government, they said these are used for passing extremely important bills on an emergency basis.

    They said in the first 30 years since independence, only one ordinance was used for every 10 bills and claimed that almost four ordinances are being used for every 10 bills now.

    “The prime minister is avoiding Parliament. Even Manmohan Singh was never that comfortable with the parliamentary system, but he used to answer our questions on a designated day. However, ever since the BJP came to power, (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi has never answered any questions. This is hooliganism,” O’Brien alleged.

    The TMC leaders also questioned the government over its inability to appoint a deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha.

    “The government says it has a huge majority in the Lok Sabha. It’s been two years, where is the deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha? Why has anyone not been appointed yet?” they asked.

  • Rajya Sabha passed one bill per day on an average despite disruptions: Government

    The government said it successfully carried out the government business during the Monsoon Session and the bills passed by the Rajya Sabha will shape the future of our country.

  • Opposition leaders hold protest over demand to repeal farm laws, Rahul says ‘democracy murdered’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Leaders of several opposition parties on Thursday marched in protest against the government on several issues, including Pegasus, farm laws and alleged manhandling of their MPs in Rajya Sabha, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying the voice of people was crushed in Parliament and democracy was “murdered”.

    Top leaders of several opposition parties met in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and then walked in protest from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk.

    Those who attended the meeting included Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Kharge, Sanjay Raut, Tiruchi Siva, Manoj Jha and other opposition leaders.

    They met Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and complained against the alleged heckling of MPs including some women.

    Some union ministers also met Naidu and complained against the alleged unruly behaviour of some opposition members in the House on Wednesday.

    The protest comes a day after the passage of bills in Rajya Sabha amid charges of manhandling of opposition leaders including some women MPs.

    The protesting MPs carried placards and banners against the government that read ‘Stop murder of democracy’ and ‘we demand Repeal of anti farmers laws’.

    “The Parliament session is over. Frankly, as far as 60 percent of the country is concerned, there has been no Parliament session because the voice of 60 percent of this country has been crushed, humiliated and yesterday in the Rajya Sabha (the MPs were) physically beaten,” Gandhi charged.

    ALSO READ | Rajya Sabha pandemonium: Manhandled by male marshals, say women MPs; government denies charges

    He said the opposition was not allowed to speak inside Parliament and “this is nothing short of murder of democracy”.

    The former Congress chief said the opposition raised the issue of Pegasus, farmers’ issues and price rise but were not allowed to speak inside Parliament.

    “This is nothing short of the murder of democracy in this country,” he alleged.

    Gandhi also trained his guns on the prime minister, accusing him of “selling the country to big businessmen”.

    “For the first time in Rajya Sabha MPs were beaten up, after bringing people from outside,” he alleged and added that “It is the Chairman’s and Speaker’s responsibility to run the House”.

    “Who is stopping the opposition in the House. I will tell you, India’s prime minister is doing the work of selling this country. He is selling the soul of India to two-three industrialists and that is why the opposition is not allowed to speak inside Parliament,” Gandhi alleged.

    Echoing Gandhi, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut alleged that no Parliament session was held as the opposition was not allowed to raise issues of public importance.

    Delhi | Opposition leaders march towards Vijay Chowk from Parliament demanding repeal of Centre’s three farm laws pic.twitter.com/y9E3U5PxES
    — ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2021
    “The way people were brought and deployed as marshals in Rajya Sabha. I felt like marshal law was imposed and I felt like I was standing at Pakistan border as I was stopped from going inside,” Raut said.

    Tiruchi Siva said one has never witnessed such behaviour in Parliament in more than two decades.

    Praful Patel said his leader Sharad Pawar has stated that he has never seen such shameful incidents in Parliament in his long political career.

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had termed as “totally false” the opposition’s allegations that marshals manhandled their MPs and said one can check facts from CCTV footage.

    The tumultuous Monsoon session of Parliament was on Wednesday curtailed by two days even as an anguished Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu broke down over the huge ruckus in the House equating the act of some opposition MPs to “sacrilege in temple of democracy” and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla saying he was “extremely hurt” by continuous disruptions.

  • Monsoon session: Despite continuous disruption, Rajya Sabha passes second highest number of bills since 2014

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Despite the highest disruption in the recently concluded monsoon session of Parliament in the last seven years, the number of bills passed per day during this session of Rajya Sabha was the second-highest since 2014, said sources.

    With over 74 hours and 26 minutes lost due to protests by the Opposition on various issues, the Upper House passed 1.1 bills per day in 17 days sitting.

    In 2020, when the nation was reeling under the effect of COVID-19, the Rajya Sabha passed 2.5 bills per day, the highest since 2014, during the monsoon session.

    A total of 19 Bills were passed during the monsoon session in the Upper House, including the Constitutional Amendment 127th Amendment Bill, Tribunals Reforms Bill, Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, Inland Vessels Bill, among others.

    As per sources, the Central government successfully carried out its business during the session. This reflects the commitment, productivity and ability of the government to drive the legislative agenda in the Parliament, which aims to fulfil the aspirations of its citizens.

    However, this session saw a lot of disruption by opposition parties over issues including farm laws, Pegasus spyware, COVID-19, and inflation.

    The highest average time lost per day due to interruptions or adjournments since the 231st session of Rajya Sabha in 2014 is 4 hours 30 minutes.

    The sources said that the unruly behaviour of some members was totally unacceptable.

    “Disruption of House pre-planned, washing out the session was their ultimate goal. Some Opposition members desecrated the sanctity of the House by climbing the Sanctum Sanctorum (Garbhagriha), namely the table located at well of the House and threw the Rule Book at the Chair. This behaviour is highly condemnable,” they added.

    Sources said the House has been a forum for debate but such instances have resulted in lowering the dignity of this great institution Opposition should apologise to the Chairman and people of the country.

    A special committee should be constituted to look into these incidents, they said.

    The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, two days before the scheduled conclusion of the monsoon session of parliament. The session commenced on July 19.

  • MPs tear papers, jostle with security staff in Rajya Sabha

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: An unprecedented security staff deployment inside the Rajya Sabha chamber to prevent a repeat of the ugly scenes of members climbing on tables did not deter Opposition MPs from creating a ruckus on Wednesday as they tore papers, jostled with the marshals and attempted to go near the presiding officer’s chair.

    After a peaceful debate and the smooth passage of a bill to restore the states’ powers to identify and notify their own lists of OBCs, all hell broke loose when the insurance amendment bill to privatise the state-run general insurance companies was taken up.

    Calling it a sell-off, the Opposition MPs stormed into the Well of the House shouting anti-government slogans.

    They were, however, prevented from going anywhere near the table of the House or the chair by a wall of about 50 security staff that sort of cordoned off what Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu referred to as the “sanctum sanctorum”.

    A cross-gender staff deployment — female officers where male MPs were protesting and male officers where female MPs were protesting — was made.

    But this did not deter the MPs belonging to a cross-section of opposition parties — from the Congress to the Left to the TMC and to the DMK.

    They tore papers, believed to be copies of the bill, and lofted those towards the chair and the House officers.

    Some tried to break the cordon and jostled with the security staff.

    During the melee, the House passed the insurance bill by a voice vote, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman not even replying to the limited debate that could take place.

    The ruckus forced two adjournments and later, when two separate bills on homeopathy and the Indian system of medicine were taken up, the Opposition MPs staged a walk-out.

    Leader of the House and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal alleged that an MP tried to “strangulate” a lady security officer.

    During the ruckus, the MPs carried placards and shouted slogans.

    Dola Sen of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) held a string tied around the neck of a fellow MP, who had a placard hung around her neck saying “Democracy Killed”.

    Ripun Bora of the Congress made unsuccessful attempts to climb over the marshals to reach the chair.

    Some of the MPs whistled and a few others stood up on their seats.

    The Opposition MPs shouted slogans when the insurance bill was being passed by the voice vote.

    A few of them did not even realise that the bill was passed and had to be informed by their leaders.

    On Tuesday, TMC, Congress and Left MPs climbed on the House table, which is placed right below the presiding officers’ chair, forcing multiple adjournments.

    They squatted on the table even when the proceedings were adjourned.

  • Congress appoints Naseer Hussain, Chhaya Verma as its whips in Rajya Sabha

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday appointed MPs Syed Naseer Hussain and Chhaya Verma as its whips in the Rajya Sabha, a party statement said.

    “Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has appointed MPs Syed Naseer Hussain and Chhaya Verma as whips of Congress Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha,” the party statement by Congress chief whip in the Upper House Jairam Ramesh said.

    The Congress has Mallikarjun Kharge as leader of the Opposition and Anand Sharma as deputy leader of the Congress in the upper house and the move is seen as a measure to strengthen its floor management in the Rajya Sabha.

    The party now has the same number of whips and chief whips in the upper house as in the Lok Sabha.

  • Why ‘quiet’ on caste census? Congress asks government in Rajya Sabha

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress asked the government on Wednesday why was it “quiet” and “running away” from a caste-based census, which was mooted by a woman MP of the ruling BJP in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday and even by the chief ministers of Bihar and Odisha.

    A caste-based census is required to assess the exact ground situation because in at least 30 states and Union territories, the reservation for backward classes has crossed the upper limit, the opposition party said.

    Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha while initiating a debate in the Upper House on the Constitution (127th Amendment) Bill, 2021 that seeks to restore the states’ power to identify and specify the Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBCs), which was lost after the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Maratha quota case.

    ALSO READ | Challenging the hegemony of caste-based parties

    Asserting that there is a demand for a caste-based census from all quarters, Singhvi said the exercise is needed because the quota for backward classes has exceeded the determined limits in many state.

    In 30 states and Union territories, it is more than 50 per cent, he said, while referring to Nagaland and Chhattisgarh in particular.

    Similarly, while there is a 17-per cent quota for the backward classes in jobs, in reality, their percentage is higher, the Congress leader said.

    “This brings us to an important issue — a caste census. Why are you running away from a caste census? Your chief minister in Bihar, another chief minister in Odisha and your woman MP said you are going to do this. Why is the government keeping quiet today?” he asked.

    Singhvi also asked why the government is not saying if it would bring a caste census or not.

    ALSO READ | UP polls 2022: Akhilesh Yadav promises caste census within six months of assuming power

    “The reason why the government is quiet is that the reservation might increase from 22 per cent to 35 per cent,” he said.

    Singhvi also said the Congress-led UPA government had brought a caste census in 2011 but it had gaps.

    “There were gaps, I accept that. But we tried,” he said.

    Speaking about the Constitution (127th Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Congress leader said it is important because 671 castes would have lost reservation if the amendments were not made.

    He said the government had several opportunities to rectify the law brought in 2018, adding, “Due to arrogance and adamancy, you did not do it.”

    Singhvi said even a Parliamentary Select Committee had suggested the amendments to the government to bring more clarity but it was ignored and thereafter, the apex court interpreted it wrongly.

    “You committed a mistake, even the apex court committed a big mistake. The court ignored the intent of Parliament,” he said.

    The Congress leader said the government should incorporate one more line in the amendment bill that it will be effective from 2018.

  • Anurag Thakur says Congress MP’s conduct in Rajya Sabha shameful, likens it to Red Fort vandalism

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday likened the unruly behaviour of Congress MP Pratap Singh Bajwa in the Rajya Sabha to the January 26 vandalism at the Red Fort and said throwing a file at the Chair in the House was a “shameful” incident.

    He also lashed out at Congress and other opposition parties over the disruption of the proceedings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, saying those who have been sent to Parliament by people to raise their issues are resorting to unruly behaviour.

    Bajwa was on Tuesday seen throwing an official file at the Chair in the Rajya Sabha after climbing the table occupied by officials during the protest by opposition members when the House was to commence a discussion on farmers’ issues.

    “Throwing a file at the Chair after climbing the table was a shameful incident,” Thakur told reporters.

    “If someone takes pride in resorting to such an act, I feel that the shameful incidents of January 26 are being repeated,” he added.

    Bajwa on Tuesday said he had no regrets about creating ruckus in the Rajya Sabha and was ready to face any action for raising his voice against the farm laws.

    “I have no regrets. I will do this 100 times again if the government does not give us an opportunity to discuss the three black anti-agriculture laws,” he had told PTI.

  • Spent sleepless night after ‘sacrilege in temple of democracy’: Naidu attacks MPs after Rajya Sabha ruckus

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Expressing deep anguish over some opposition MPs climbing on the table in the House, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said he couldn’t sleep because of the sacrilege in the “temple of democracy”.

    Referring to Tuesday’s events, Naidu said he struggled to find a provocation or reason for the low in the “august House”.

    Parliament, the apex legislature of the country is regarded as the “temple of democracy”, he said.

    The table area where the officers and reporters of the House, the secretary general and the presiding officer are seated is considered the holy sanctum sanctorum of the House, an emotional Naidu said as the Rajya Sabha assembled for the day.

    “I rise in deep anguish to place on record the way this august House is being subjected to sacrilege and that too propelled by a sense of competition among some sections of the House since the commencement of this monsoon session,” the Rajya Sabha chairman said.

    There were ugly scenes in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday as opposition MPs climbed on the officials’ table, waved black cloth and threw files when the House began a discussion on the farmers’ protest against new reform laws.

    Several MPs stood on the table where the parliamentary staff sits right below the chair, while others crowded around it shouting anti-government slogans.

    A few members squatted on the table for over one-and-half hours during which proceedings were adjourned multiple times.

    No sooner was a discussion on the farmers’ issues called, MPs belonging to opposition parties including the Congress and the TMC trooped into the Well shouting slogans seeking withdrawal of the controversial farm reform legislations.

    According to Naidu, a certain degree of sacredness is attached to the place.

    In temples, devotees are allowed only up to the sanctum sanctorum and not beyond, he said, adding that entering the area is itself an act of sacrilege.

    “I am distressed by the way this sacredness has been destroyed yesterday.”

    While some members sat on the table, others climbed on it, perhaps to be more visible, he said.

    “I have no words to convey my anguish and to condemn such acts. As I spent a sleepless night last night, I struggled to find the provocation or reason for forcing this august House to hit such a low yesterday,” he said.

    Naidu said a discussion on ‘agricultural problems and solutions’ was listed for discussion on Tuesday, further to a broad agreement in the House to discuss the plight of farmers.

    While the Chairman was making the remarks, several opposition members entered the Well to raise slogans on different issues.

    However, Naidu continued making his observations amid the uproar.

    Over the years, when ‘Notices of Motions’ of different kind are admitted by the Chair, the language to be used in the ‘List of Business’ is drafted in such a way that it is acceptable to all sections of the House without denting the thrust of the issue to be discussed.

    It happened yesterday too, he said.

    “I find it difficult to understand as to how the way the subject was listed in the List of Business for yesterday would have prevented any member to raise any issue concerning the farm sector, including the three farm Bills that some members were keen to raise in the House and even demanding their withdrawal,” Naidu said.

    Tuesday, he added, was a golden opportunity for members to have gone on record with their positions on all issues relating to the plight of the famers.

    But it was not to be as the sole intention seemed to be to not allow the House to function.

    On Tuesday, when the Chair announced a discussion on farmers’ issues, Congress chief whip Jairam Ramesh cited a ruling by the Chair in 2015 and said his notice for calling attention motion was converted into a short duration discussion without taking the sense of the House.

    This, he said, was a unilateral decision.

    Naidu also expressed his concern at some MPs shooting the “sad moments of sacrilege” in the House and posting them on social media.

    While doing so, they only ended up showing to the people the extent to which the House could degenerate to due to the new found competitive and aggressive disruption by some sections, he said.

    “It was very sad indeed. I am deeply anguished and so must be the nation and well wishers of our parliamentary democracy,” Naidu observed.

    As chairman of the House, he said he was “scared to visualise the implications and consequences of such competitive acts of sacrilege in our temple of democracy”.

    Naidu asked the members to seriously reflect on what happened on Tuesday and explore remedies if any.

    Failure to do so would certainly render our parliamentary democracy irrelevant.

    “I would like to remind all of you that we begin to celebrate the 75th year of our independence in a few days from now. The choice before each one of you is very clear. It is either to be the best parliamentarian or the worst disruptor,” he added.

    Naidu also said that “some people” had complained that Rajya Sabha TV did not broadcast what happened in the House on Tuesday.

    “I don’t know why Rajya Sabha TV not showing. This also can be shown. I have no problem,” he said.

    As opposition members kept raising slogans, the proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon.

  • Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till noon amid Opposition uproar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 PM on Wednesday as Opposition parties raised slogans over various issues while Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu was making a remark on the conduct of some members in the House the day before.

    As the Hosue assembled for the day, Naidu expressed deep anguish over some opposition MPs climbing on the Table in the House on Tuesday, saying he couldn’t sleep because of the sacrilege of the temple of democracy.

    Referring to Tuesday’s events, Naidu said Parliament, the apex legislature of the country, is regarded as the “temple of democracy”.

    The Table area where officers and reporters of the House, the Secretary General and the Presiding Officer sit is considered as the holy sanctum sanctorum of the House, he said.

    A certain degree of sacredness is attached to this place, Naidu said, and added in temples, devotees are allowed only up to this sanctum sanctorum and not beyond.

    Entering this sanctum sanctorum of the House in itself is an act of sacrilege and it has become a routine over the years, he said.

    “I am distressed by the way this sacredness has been destroyed yesterday. While some members sat on the Table, some others climbed on the Table of the House, perhaps to be more visible with acts of sacrilege. I have no words to convey my anguish and to condemn such acts,” the Chairman said.

    Naidu further said he “spent a sleepless night last night”.

    As he was making the remarks, several opposition party MPs trooped in the Well of the House and started sloganeering over various issues.

    The Chairman adjourned the proceedings till noon.