Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day amid Opposition ruckus, sloganeering over Bihar electoral roll revision
Pointing to the rules, Deputy Chairman Harivansh urged members to 'strictly adhere to well-established customs and etiquette to be observed in the Council and respect each other's privilege to speak on the floor when permitted by the Chair.'
'Yesterday, it was unfortunately observed that some members, while not being in their designated seats, were attempting to disturb the Speaker,' he said.
The session began with the swearing-in of members from Tamil Nadu. Actor-politician Kamal Haasan of the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), which is an ally of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, took oath as a Rajya Sabha member, marking his debut in the House. Three DMK members from Tamil Nadu also took the oath – S R Sivalingam, Rajathi S, and P Wilson. All of them took the oath in Tamil.
Later, Deputy Chairman Harivansh said he received 28 notices under Rule 267. Notices under this rule ask to suspend all listed business and discuss an important issue that the country is facing.
Notices by MPs, including Akhilesh Prasad Singh, A A Rahim, Saket Gokhale, Sushmita Dev, Jebi Mather Hisham, Tiruchi Siva, John Brittas, and Manoj Kumar Jha demanded discussion on the concerns arising from the SIR of electoral rolls undertaken by the Election Commission in Bihar. Other notices from Opposition MPs under Rule 267 called for discussions on the alleged discrimination of Bengali migrant workers in other states, restoration of constitutional democracy in Manipur, and India's trade deal with the UK and the US.
Declining the notices, the Deputy Chairman pointed to 'detailed rulings on Rule 267 imparted by the Chair' in December 2022. This prompted an uproar from the Opposition. The Rajya Sabha has previously seen showdowns between Opposition members and former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar over declining of notices under Rule 267.
When the House reconvened at 12 pm with Ghanshyam Tiwari in the Chair, Question Hour began amid sloganeering from Opposition members.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was responding to a question, appealed to the Chair and Opposition members to let him respond to a question on his ministry. 'This House is the temple of democracy. The soul of democracy is dialogue and discussion. I would like to respond to the questions,' he said.
With continuing sloganeering from the Opposition, the House was adjourned for the day, and is set to meet again on Monday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
3 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Frequent disruptions in Parliament harm Opposition more than government: Kiren Rijiju
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that frequent disruptions in the House hurt the Opposition more, as they lose the crucial opportunity to hold the government accountable. The remarks came after the first week of the ongoing monsoon session was largely washed out due to repeated protests by Opposition MPs. Speaking at the Sansad Ratna Awards event organised by Prime Point Foundation, Rijiju recalled how bureaucrats sometimes express relief when Parliament is adjourned. 'Let me tell you, officers are relieved when Parliament doesn't function because they escape the grilling. The government can be held accountable in Parliament. When the House runs, ministers face tough questions. When it adjourns within minutes, those questions don't even get raised. Opposition loses more than the government when Parliament is disrupted,' he said. 'Those who stall the House think they are damaging the government, but in truth, they are weakening their own role in a democracy,' Rijiju added. Reinforcing the importance of parliamentary accountability, the minister said, 'In any democracy, the government must answer to the people through Parliament. That is why allowing the House to run is essential for a functioning democracy.' Reflecting on his journey in Parliament, Rijiju said he never considered Opposition MPs as adversaries. 'We are all colleagues. Before 2014, most of my parliamentary career has been on the Opposition benches. Political rivalries may exist, but there is no enmity,' he said. Drawing from a quote by Winston Churchill, Rijiju said, 'A new MP once asked Churchill about the people sitting across the aisle, and he said they were political opponents. But when asked about those sitting on his side, he said they were our political enemies. That is politics, but we are not enemies.' Rijiju also said there is undue burden on Indian legislators compared to their counterparts in developed countries. 'There, one MP represents approximately 66,000 people. Here, it is over 20 lakh. They are not asked to fix drains or get someone out of jail. But our MPs deal with personal grievances, infrastructure and law enforcement issues and are still expected to perform in the House,' he said. 'Despite all this, they are often criticised. Every elected MP deserves respect, it is not an easy job.' Recalling his own early experiences, Rijiju shared a humorous but telling anecdote. 'The first time I met Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, I had gone to request a room for MPs who smoke. He scolded me, saying, 'This is your first meeting with the Speaker and this is what you've come for?' I got a good scolding that day and learned I should approach such offices with more purpose.' He also reflected on how senior leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani set examples of decorum. 'Back then, we would think twice before speaking because stalwarts were listening. Now disruptions begin on day one. Maybe social media has changed the game.' Calling for more constructive media reporting, Rijiju said, 'Earlier, journalists would arrive at 9 am and cover parliamentary debates till night. Good speeches got coverage. Today, headlines go to who created the most ruckus. I remember Sharad Pawar once presented an excellent agriculture policy, but the next day not a single paper mentioned it. So now, MPs chase headlines because good work is neither reported nor recognised.' 'Negative news drives TRPs, not constructive action. It is a vicious cycle — both the MPs and the media are trapped in it,' he said. Rijiju congratulated all the recipients of this year's Sansad Ratna Awards, including Supriya Sule, Bhartruhari Mahtab, N K Premachandran, and Shrirang Appa Barne, who received special jury awards for consistent performance in the 16th, 17th, and the current Lok Sabha. 'Whenever any parliamentarian is recognised for good work, we should all celebrate together, cutting across party lines,' Rijiju said. National Commission for Backward Classes Chairperson Hansraj Gangaram Ahir took a swipe at the Opposition, saying, 'Those who claim to be followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar bring disrepute to the country by speaking against it abroad'.
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Frequent disruptions in Parliament harm Opposition more than government: Kiren Rijiju
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that frequent disruptions in the House hurt the Opposition more, as they lose the crucial opportunity to hold the government accountable. The remarks came after the first week of the ongoing monsoon session was largely washed out due to repeated protests by Opposition MPs. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Public Policy Others Degree Operations Management Management Project Management Cybersecurity Product Management Data Analytics CXO healthcare Healthcare MCA others MBA Data Science Leadership Technology Data Science PGDM Digital Marketing Design Thinking Finance Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details Speaking at the Sansad Ratna Awards event organised by Prime Point Foundation , Rijiju recalled how bureaucrats sometimes express relief when Parliament is adjourned. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "Let me tell you, officers are relieved when Parliament doesn't function because they escape the grilling. The government can be held accountable in Parliament. When the House runs, ministers face tough questions. When it adjourns within minutes, those questions don't even get raised. Opposition loses more than the government when Parliament is disrupted," he said. "Those who stall the House think they are damaging the government, but in truth, they are weakening their own role in a democracy," Rijiju added. Live Events Reinforcing the importance of parliamentary accountability, the minister said, "In any democracy, the government must answer to the people through Parliament. That is why allowing the House to run is essential for a functioning democracy." Reflecting on his journey in Parliament, Rijiju said he never considered Opposition MPs as adversaries. "We are all colleagues. Before 2014, most of my parliamentary career has been on the Opposition benches. Political rivalries may exist, but there is no enmity," he said. Drawing from a quote by Winston Churchill, Rijiju said, "A new MP once asked Churchill about the people sitting across the aisle, and he said they were political opponents. But when asked about those sitting on his side, he said they were our political enemies. That is politics, but we are not enemies." Rijiju also said there is undue burden on Indian legislators compared to their counterparts in developed countries. "There, one MP represents approximately 66,000 people. Here, it is over 20 lakh. They are not asked to fix drains or get someone out of jail. But our MPs deal with personal grievances, infrastructure and law enforcement issues and are still expected to perform in the House," he said. "Despite all this, they are often criticised. Every elected MP deserves respect, it is not an easy job." Recalling his own early experiences, Rijiju shared a humorous but telling anecdote. "The first time I met Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, I had gone to request a room for MPs who smoke. He scolded me, saying, 'This is your first meeting with the Speaker and this is what you've come for?' I got a good scolding that day and learned I should approach such offices with more purpose." He also reflected on how senior leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani set examples of decorum. "Back then, we would think twice before speaking because stalwarts were listening. Now disruptions begin on day one. Maybe social media has changed the game." Calling for more constructive media reporting, Rijiju said, "Earlier, journalists would arrive at 9 am and cover parliamentary debates till night. Good speeches got coverage. Today, headlines go to who created the most ruckus. I remember Sharad Pawar once presented an excellent agriculture policy, but the next day not a single paper mentioned it. So now, MPs chase headlines because good work is neither reported nor recognised." "Negative news drives TRPs, not constructive action. It is a vicious cycle -- both the MPs and the media are trapped in it," he said. Rijiju congratulated all the recipients of this year's Sansad Ratna Awards, including Supriya Sule, Bhartruhari Mahtab, N K Premachandran, and Shrirang Appa Barne, who received special jury awards for consistent performance in the 16th, 17th, and the current Lok Sabha. "Whenever any parliamentarian is recognised for good work, we should all celebrate together, cutting across party lines," Rijiju said. National Commission for Backward Classes Chairperson Hansraj Gangaram Ahir took a swipe at the Opposition, saying, "Those who claim to be followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar bring disrepute to the country by speaking against it abroad".
Indian Express
31 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘MVA failure to oppose Urban Naxal Bill in Assembly sent wrong message, it must hit streets now': CPI(M)'s Dhawale
The smooth passage of the Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill in the state Assembly recently saw the members of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes the Congress, NCP(SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), failing to even express their dissent against the legislation dubbed as 'Urban Naxal Bill', which seeks 'effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of Left-wing extremist organisations'. The only dissenter from the Opposition ranks on the floor of the House was CPI(M) MLA Vinod Nikole. The Bill's critics have warned that it grants sweeping powers to the State that could criminalise dissent and ideological activity under the pretext of curbing Naxalism, raising fears of arbitrary arrests. In an interview with The Indian Express, CPI(M) Politburo member and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) chief Ashok Dhawale says the MSPS Bill marks a 'direct assault on democratic rights and civil liberties', calling the MVA MLAs' silence in the House 'unfortunate'. Excerpts: The CPI(M) has come out strongly against the MSPS Bill. Could you explain the reasons behind your opposition? We are completely opposed to this Bill. At its core, it is a direct attack on democratic rights and civil liberties. The government is using the so-called 'urban Naxal' threat as a red herring, an excuse to target dissent and silence critics of the ruling BJP and their corporate backers. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has publicly stated that the Naxal issue in Maharashtra is confined to just two tehsils in Gadchiroli. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also has publicly stated that the Naxalite Maoist problem has largely been eliminated nationwide. So, the question arises if the threat is under control, why this new law now? The government claims it is a security measure. Are you saying there is more to it? This law is not about security, it is about silencing voices. There are already enough draconian laws in place — UAPA at the national level, and MCOCA in Maharashtra. Some provisions in this new Bill are even more draconian than UAPA. So clearly, it's not about lack of legal tools. We believe this is being brought in to suppress growing people's movements in the state like the farmers fighting against land acquisition for the Shaktipeeth Highway, or resistance to corporate-led projects in Dharavi, Wadhwan port, and areas like Gadchiroli and Chandrapur. These projects, pushed by big corporates, especially mining projects in districts like Gadchiroli and Chandrapur for which land acquisition process has started, often violate forest and land rights. The Bill is a tool to criminalise these legitimate struggles. While you have criticised the Mahayuti government, several of your own allies in the MVA have been criticised for not opposing the Bill. What is your take? The record of the MVA who are our allies has been mixed. I would describe what happened in the Assembly as unfortunate. However, to be fair, several top MVA leaders joined earlier protests against this Bill. On June 3, there was a massive dharna at Azad Maidan, and leaders like Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil, and Uddhav Thackeray were present where they were categorical about their opposition to the Bill. On April 22, nearly 50,000 people protested against this Bill across Maharashtra. Though that was a Left-led call, many MVA leaders joined in solidarity. However, we were disappointed that when the Bill was introduced in the Assembly, only our MLA Vinod Nikole of the CPI(M) stood up to oppose it. Not a single MLA from the MVA bloc spoke out. On the same day we had an online meeting with NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil and we raised this issue with him. We were told that several MVA MLAs who were part of the Select Committee had already opposed the Bill in that House Committee. But we believe that not opposing it on the Assembly floor sent the wrong message. It has not gone down well with the people of the state. To their credit, the very next day in the Legislative Council, the MVA rectified this mistake, where they unitedly opposed the Bill and walked out in protest. That act did some damage control, and we welcomed it. What are your expectations from the MVA now? And, are you planning to take any legal recourse against the Bill? Of course, we will examine legal options, but we are realistic. Generally, courts do not interfere in legislative processes. So we are not placing much emphasis on legal challenges. The real battle is on the streets. The farm laws passed by Parliament were ultimately repealed through mass struggle. Similarly, if we want to defeat this draconian Bill, we need a broad-based, united mass movement. We are trying to bring all forces together to make that happen. Speeches alone will not see the end of this Bill. We, including the major constituents of the MVA, will need to hit the streets. We are trying to persuade them. Let us see what happens. Would you like some provisions of the Bill to be diluted, or you want the bill to be repealed? The government had called for suggestions and objections to this Bill and it received 12,500 suggestions. Out of these, 9000 suggestions sought a complete scrapping of the Bill while another 3,000 called for amendments. We believe that the Bill in its entirety is harmful for the citizens of the state. We are not protesting so that the government tweak this law — we want it to be thrown out entirely.
