Staff Reporter / NEW DELHI
Four Congress Members have been suspended for the remaining part of the Monsoon session from the Lok Sabha for their ‘unruly behaviour’ in the House.
The Chair took names of T N Pratapan, Manickam Tagore, Jyothi Mani and Ramya Haridas for disrespectfully showing placards towards the chair.
Parliamentary Affairs minister proposed to suspend the four members for the rest of the session. Before suspending the members, the chair repeatedly urged the agitating members to resume their seats to take part in the proceedings of the House.
Earlier, the Congress led opposition members trooped into the well of the House soon after the House met at 3PM after the first adjournment. They raised slogans against the government and displayed placards. Amidst din, the chair took up urgent matters of the public importance by the members.
When repeated appeals from the chair to take part in the proceedings and go back to their seats, were unheeded by the agitating members, the chair initiated for suspension of the four members . Immediately after that the Chair adjourned the house for the day.
Rajya Sabha was adjourned thrice following uproar by Opposition members over the issues of price rise and GST hike on essential items. When the House assembled at 4 PM after the second adjournment, the Chair tried to take up the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems ( Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill 2022 for discussion. The Opposition members raised the issue of price rise and GST hike on essential items and trooped into the Well and shouted slogans demanding discussion. Amidst the din, the discussion on the bill was started.
Some members also spoke on the bill but due to the opposition uproar, the Rajya Sabha was again adjourned for 10 minutes till 5 PM. When the House again reassembled, the discussion on the bill was again started. After announcing that the External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar will make a reply to the discussion on the bill tomorrow, the House took up a Special Mention under which the members raised the issues of public importance. After that, the House was adjourned for the day.
Earlier, when the House reassembled at 3 PM after the first adjournment, the opposition continued with their protest raising slogans against the government and demanding discussion over the price rise and GST hike issues under rule 267. Meanwhile, the Chair tried to run the House urging the members to go back to their seats and allow the House to function. But the opposition members did not pay heed to the request and continued with their sloganeering. Leader of the House, Piyush Goyal accused the opposition of disrupting the House saying they have no issue.
He also criticized Congress for misleading the nation over-allotment of seats to the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge during the swearing-in ceremony of the President at Central Hall in Parliament. He said, Mr. Kharge was allowed to sit in the first row despite being entitled to a seat in the third row as per the order of precedence. After it, the Chair again asked the NCP leader Fauzia Khan to start a discussion on calling attention motion on the situation arising out of rising cases of post-Covid complications but she expressed her inability to start the discussion and requested the Chair to bring the House in order. Amid din, the Chair adjourned the House till 4 PM.
Earlier, when the House met at 2 PM, Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected the adjournment notices moved by members of Congress, Left, TMC, AAP and others. Following this, opposition members trooped into the well, raising slogans against the government. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, the opposition wants a discussion over the price rise as it is a big issue. He said, they want discussion under rule 267 by immediately suspending the listed business, however, the government is intended to discuss it under rule 176.
He accused the government of running away from the discussion over price rise. TMC leader Derek O’ Brien questioned why after July 2017, no notices under rule 267 has been accepted. Responding to it, Leader of the House, Piyush Goyal reiterated that the government is ready for a discussion once Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recovers from Covid. Mr. Goyal said, the inflation rate is low in India as compared to other countries. He said, several opposition-ruled States have not reduced taxes on petroleum products to provide relief to the common man. The Deputy Chairman tried to take up calling attention motion on the situation arising out of rising cases of post-Covid complications but in vain. Later, he adjourned the House till 3 PM.
Earlier, nominated member Ilaiyaraaja was administered oath by Deputy Chairman Harivansh. The House congratulated Neeraj Chopra for winning silver medal in Javelin throw at World Athletics Championships. Appreciating Neeraj Chopra’s remarkable performance, Mr. Harivansh said, Mr. Chopra has added another glorious chapter in the history of Indian athletics.