INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Chaos ensued in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday as the house cleared two key agricultural bills on Sunday
Opposition member Derek O'Brien charged towards the podium, tried to tear the rule book, and allegedly attempted to snatch the microphone of
the Deputy Chairman, as a mark of protest.The Upper House, which witnessed a brief adjournment due to the pandemonium, passed by voice vote
the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of
Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020
The bills have already been passed by Lok Sabha and will now go to the President for his assent before they are notified as laws.Trouble
started when the sitting of the House was extended beyond the scheduled time to allow passage of the bills
Opposition members, who felt such a move should be resorted to only by consensus, rushed into the Well, shouting slogans against the
government and accusing it of being anti-farmer.PARLIAMENT LIVE UPDATES HEREFour opposition sponsored motions to send the two bills to a
House panel for greater scrutiny were negated by voice vote, but the Congress, TMC, CPM and DMK members sought a division of vote on the
issue.As Harivansh over-ruled them saying division of votes can take place only when members are on their seat, TMC leader Derek O'Brien
charged towards the podium, thrusting the rule book into the face of the Deputy Chairman.(Photo: PTI)House marshals thwarted the move as
also blocking a book that was flung towards Harivansh
An attempt was also made to pulls microphones away from the chair but the marshals physically stopped that from happening.He also took to
Twitter and alleged that 'they cheated'
Sharing a video from inside the house, he said, "They cheated
They broke every rule in Parliament
In the worst sense of the word
They cut RSTV feed so the country couldn't see
But first watch this"Harivansh, who asked members to go back to their places and not come into the Well due to the Covid-19 protocol
requiring physical separation, first muted the audio of the live proceedings but with the ruckus continuing, he adjourned the proceedings
for 15 minutes.When the House reassembled, opposition parties chanted slogans but this did not prevent Harivansh from putting the bill to
voice vote.As the first bill got voice approval of the House and motions for sending it to a select committee was rejected, at least two
members tried to climb on the table of Rajya Sabha officers but were pulled down.Both the bills were passed by voice vote and amendments
moved by the opposition parties rejected.Derek O'Brien later tweeted that the opposition members are staging a sit-in protest.He tweeted,
"MPs from opposition parties now sitting in dharna INSIDE Rajya Sabha
The opposition wanted a vote (division) on #FarmBills Govt pushed bills denying Oppn legit right".He also said that the 'BJP tried to break
the back of yet another institution of our democracy'.
