Both houses adjourned as protests continue
NEW DELHI: Both houses of parliament were adjourned for the day on Thursday amid protests by Opposition members over Pegasus row and farmers’ issues, even as the lower house passed two bills, including the one that proposes to end a controversial retrospective tax policy.
In the Lok Sabha, soon after the house convened at 11 am, Speaker Om Birla took up the Question Hour. However, the members resorted to sloganeering over Pegasus snooping controversy and farm laws. As the protests continued, the Speaker urged the agitating members to return to their seats.
The proceedings lasted for around 15 minutes after which Birla adjourned the House till noon. When the House resumed at noon, Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the chair, allowed discussions on ‘The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021’, which proposed amendments to the Income Tax and Finance Act 2012 to make it clear that no tax demand will be raised for any indirect transfer of Indian assets if the transaction was undertaken prior to May 28, 2012. After a brief statement by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and clause-wise consideration of the bill, it was passed by voice vote.
Another bill ‘The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021’, to set up a central university in Ladakh was passed following a brief statement by education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The chair then adjourned the house for the day.
In the Rajya Sabha, the house witnessed one adjournment a few minutes after it met for the day and was then adjourned for the day a few minutes after it met again at 12 PM.
The Congress, Trinamool Congress and other members continued to raise slogans in the well soon after it met for Question Hour. Surendra Singh Nagar, who was in the chair, announced that the meeting of the business advisory committee of the house would be prepped to 12.15 PM on the request of some opposition parties. The chair continued with the Question Hour amid the din but adjourned the house after opposition members continued to raise slogans in the well.