LS Adjourned 9 Times Amid Protest by Opposition on Pegasus Snooping Row, Farm laws

New Delhi: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Tuesday amid continuous protests by Opposition members over the Pegasus snooping row and farm laws.

After being adjourned nine times, the Lower House reassembled at 4.30 PM and Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the Chair, took up one matter of urgent public importance.

However, the Opposition members again trooped into the Well shouting slogans and carrying banners.

The members of Congress, CPI, CPI(M) and TMC were protesting over the Pegasus snooping row, while the BSP, SP and Shiromani Akali Dal were raising slogans against the Centre's three new farm laws.

Agrawal urged the protesting members to go back to their seats.

"We are requesting you to please cooperate and participate in the proceedings," he said.

With Opposition members not willing to relent, Agrawal adjourned the House for the day.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar took a swipe at the protesting Opposition members and said if they are concerned about farmers, they should allow the proceedings of the House to continue.

He made the remarks while replying to a supplementary query related to an insurance scheme for farmers during the Question Hour as the Opposition members continued with their sloganeering on various issues, including the Pegasus spying controversy and the agriculture laws.

"Disruptions are lowering the decorum of the House," he said.

As the protests continued, the House was adjourned for the first time till 11.45 AM.

When the House met again, the protests continued, leading to another adjournment till 12 noon.

As the Lok Sabha reassembled at 12 noon, Agrawal, who was chairing the proceedings, asked the protesting members to discuss their issues and said the government is ready to answer their questions.

As the protests continued, Agrawal adjourned the House till 12.30 PM and later till 2 PM.

Subsequently, Bhartruhari Mahtab, who was in the Chair, had to repeatedly adjourn the House due to continuing protests. 

Marine Aids Bills Passed Sans Debate in RS

Protests by unrelenting opposition members over Pegasus snooping allegations and farm laws again disrupted proceedings in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, as they demanded that discussions be taken up on the issues in the House.

Congress, TMC and other opposition party MPs rushed into the Well of the House, shouting slogans against alleged surveillance and farm laws, forcing the Chair to adjourn the proceedings four times before winding up for the day. 

Amid the din, the House passed the Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021, which will replace an over nine-decade-old law governing lighthouses and provide a fresh framework to establish and manage vessel traffic services.

The Rajya Sabha has so far failed to transact any substantial business in the Monsoon Session that started on July 19. There has only been a discussion on COVID-10 management in the Upper House.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said that the agitating members were harming the interest of the country, the MPs and also Parliament with their conduct, as his repeated appeals to them to maintain order went unheeded.

"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," he said.

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.

As the Opposition members continued their sloganeering, the deputy chairman adjourned the House till 2 PM.

When the House met again, Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked the House to proceed with a discussion on the Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021.

As a BJP MP started speaking on the Bill, the Opposition members, some of them carrying placards, trooped into the Well and started raising slogans against the government on the Pegasus snooping row.

The deputy chairman then adjourned the House till 3 PM but similar scenes were witnessed again as the proceedings resumed.

The deputy chairman asked the House to proceed with a discussion on the Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021 and called the members whose names were listed for the discussion.

However, as no one came forward, he asked Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal to reply, after which the Bill was passed.

The House was adjourned then till 4 PM.

Later, BJD member Sasmit Patra, in the chair, adjourned the House for the day immediately after Women and Child welfare minister Smriti Zubin Irani moved a motion for consideration of The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021.