Ruckus continues over Pegasus row, farm laws
Even as Opposition disrupt proceedings in both Houses, Inland Vessels Bill passed amid din
Ruckus and protests over the Pegasus snooping row and three farm laws continued to mar proceedings of Parliament for the 11th straight day on Monday, as both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day.
In the Lok Sabha, before Ram Devi, who was in the Chair, adjourned the proceedings till Tuesday morning, the House passed the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill through voice vote. When the House reassembled at 3.30 pm, the Opposition members continued their protest as Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said she wanted to respond to the concerns raised by the Leader of the Congress party, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
As the din continued, the minister sought passage of the bill, and the House approved it by a voice vote. The proceedings of the House were first adjourned till noon, then till 2 pm and again till 3.30 pm as an unrelenting Opposition refused to end its protests. The monsoon session, the first full sitting of Parliament in 18 months, has faced disruption from its first day over Pegasus, farm laws and spiraling fuel prices. Opposition leaders have raised placards, snatched a statement from the new IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, blown a whistle and stormed the well of both Houses. A Trinamool Congress member, who snatched the minister’s paper, has been suspended for the remainder of the session. The raging Covid-19 pandemic forced Parliament to cut short three sessions and scrap an entire session before this one -- but now there are a mere 11 days left in it. The Opposition claimed that while the government is eager to end the logjam, it has virtually ruled out any debate on Pegasus snooping charges.
The controversy over Pegasus software erupted on July 18 after an international investigative consortium reported that phone numbers of many Indian ministers, politicians, activists, businessmen and journalists were among the 50,000 numbers that were potentially targeted worldwide by the NSO Group’s phone hacking software.
A forensic analysis of phones of 10 of the targets in India proved they had been hacked or that there had been attempts to do so.
The Rajya Sabha, too, witnessed multiple adjournments on Monday even as it passed the Inland Vessels Bill-2021 amid the din. When Rajya Sabha reassembled at 3.36 pm after multiple adjournments, the government moved two legislations -- The Appropriation (No 4) Bill, 2021 and The Appropriation (No 3) Bill, 2021 -- for passage.
Bhubaneswar Kalita, who was in the Chair, asked the protesting Opposition members to go back to their seats and participate in the discussion on the bills.
He informed the members that both the bills would be discussed together.
“As you all know these are two very important bills where you can raise financial problems of your states. You also know that these are finance bills, it can be passed automatically. So it is in your interest to discuss it. So please cooperate,” Kalita noted.
As Opposition members continued to raise slogans, Kalita adjourned the proceedings for the day till 11 am on Tuesday.
The minister of tribal affairs introduced the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in Rajya Sabha amid the Opposition protest. Ports, shipping and waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal moved the Inland Vessels Bill, 2021 for consideration and passing.
While Congress MPS sought a discussion on the farmer agitation, the TMC and Left parties sought a debate on the Pegasus snooping issue.
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, who chaired the proceedings earlier in the day, said he was willing to consider a discussion on farmers’ problems provided members do not disturb proceedings and cooperate. But as the Opposition MPS continued to raise the issues, he adjourned the proceedings till 12 pm.
When the House reassembled, Deputy Chairman Harivansh allowed the Question Hour to continue and took some questions amid the din.