Ready to discuss issue related to people, says Govt; both Houses fail to function amid ruckus

Pegasus snooping scandal once again led to washout of Parliament proceedings for the day with the Opposition seeking debate on the issue and the Government saying the Pegasus controversy was a “non-issue” and it was ready for discussions on people-related issues.

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for yet another day on Friday due to vociferous protests over the Pegasus spying row and the three new farm laws. Same was the case with the Rajya Sabha.

Two Bills were introduced before Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day amid continued protests.

Amid uproar by Opposition members, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said in the House that the Pegasus controversy was a “non-issue” and that the Government was ready for discussions on people-related issues.

While describing the Opposition’s behaviour as “unfortunate”, he said IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has already given a detailed statement on the issue in both the Houses. Joshi said the protests are over a “non-issue, non-serious issue”.

The House proceedings were first adjourned till 12 noon when the Question Hour was in progress.

When the House reassembled at noon, two Bills — The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021 and the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill — were introduced amid the din.

Rajendra Agrawal, who was chairing the proceedings, then asked protesting members to go back to their respective seats as a discussion on the Covid situation was scheduled. The discussion on Covid could not be taken up on Friday.

As sloganeering continued, Agrawal adjourned the House for the day.

During the Question Hour, Opposition members raised slogans and displayed placards as they protested on Pegasus spyware controversy and other issues.

In the Rajya Sabha, the proceedings were marred by repeated adjournments with the Opposition rushing into the Well and raising slogans.

Amid din in the post lunch session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

She said it will provide relief to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.  The bill will help the sector ensure a smoother capital cycle and healthier cash flow, she added.

Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked the protesting Opposition members, who had trooped into the Well of the House, to return to their seats.

He called the members to participate in the discussion on the Bill. However, barring those from the ruling BJP, AIDMK and TRS, who supported the Bill, no one turned up for the discussion. The chair then called Sitharaman for her reply and the Bill was passed. After that the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House till Friday.

The morning session also saw vociferous protest by the Opposition with several members displaying placards and shouting slogans.  The proceedings were adjourned twice including the first one till 12.00 pm and then till two pm.

Deputy Chairman Harivansh persisted with the Question Hour in the pandemonium. Of the  15 listed questions , five were taken up.

The Ministers concerned responded to queries raised by the members, but the protesting members were in the Well shouting slogans in regional languages and even whistling.

The Chair reminded the protesting members of the resolution adopted during the golden jubilee celebrations of Independence that they will preserve the sanctity of the House.

Earlier, soon after the listed papers were laid on the table of the House, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he had not accepted the notices given by various Opposition party members under Rule 267 for suspension of the business to allow a discussion on the issues raised by them.

The members, who had given the notices, included Sukhendu Sekhar Ray (TMC), Amee Yajnik (Congress), Neeraj Dangi (Congress), Elamaram Kareem (CPI-M), Binoy Viswam (CPI), Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), Vishambhar Prasad Nishad (SP) and Ripun Bora (Congress).

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been rocked by Opposition protests since the Monsoon session commenced on July 19.