At least 20 opposition MPs on Monday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, asking him not to allow assent to the controversial farm Bills, claiming that the manner in which they were passed with no discussion was a “murder of democracy”.
We, belonging to diverse political parties cutting across India’s political and geographical spectrum, bring this representation to you to respectfully draw your urgent attention to the absolute and total murder of democracy, ironically in the most hallowed temple of democracy, parliament, read the letter marked by leaders of the Congress, the Left, the NCP, the DMK, the Samajwadi Party, the Shiv Sena, the Janat Dal-Secular, the Trinamool Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, among others.
The Opposition MPs said that the issue raised is, nonetheless, of a lot more important.
“We are concerned with something which affects the very backbone of the Indian Republic viz its ‘annadata’, the community of farmers,” they told.
It said that on the issue this way, “majoritarian, insensitive and uncaring” governance has no role and all the stakeholders have to listen, absorb, assimilate and from there on the act with humility. There is a bad situation for the governmental issues of ‘zid’ (obstinacy) and presumption. Rather the voice of those representing the farmers was tried to be smothered.
“Most, unfortunately, the latter was in full force in government instructions to all, given with the brazen object of ramming legislation down the throat of disagreeing Parliamentarians without allowing it to be tested freely and fairly by a vote by division,” it said.
It further said that the farm bills were purportedly treated as passed however were never cast a vote upon.
“Division, asked not by one but innumerable Members, was denied,” it claimed, including those movements and legal goals, including for amendments were not even looked at, substantially less considered.
“No attempt was made to even try for a sense of the House or a consensus as to whether the House should sit beyond the strictly prescribed 1 p.m. or continue the next day. September 20, most inexplicably and mysteriously, was treated as if it was the last day of the Session and as if heavens would fall if voting with the division was held on September 21,” it said.
It further said that massive demonstration of power was applied by the security workforce welcomed inside the House in numbers exceeding those of the MPs present.
“Practically a large portion of the Rajya Sabha was seated in the Lok Sabha chamber and the seat neither looked towards them; large parts of the proceedings in the RS chamber were not even audible to those of the RS in the LS chamber. It further said that the intolerable and audacious demonstrations of the government, in clear collusion with the legislative organ of our Republic, is additionally proof positive of the absence of numbers and lack of support with the legislature qua passage of these farm bills.
“It is clear that the government was fully aware that the farm Bills could not and would not be passed due to wide opposition, cutting across political lines, including strong opposition from several NDA allies and supporters and consequently tactics were adopted to supposedly pass the farm bills in a tyrannical manner unknown to our Constitution,” it asserted.
“We pray that you return the bills and do not append your signature,” it said.
In the morning, Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu suspended eight MPs, minutes after the House reconvened. These lawmakers from the Trinamool Congress, the Congress, the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Aam Aadmi Party were blamed for creating a ruckus in Parliament on Sunday.
The motion was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan, following which the House suspended Ripun Bora, and Syed Naseer Hussain of the Congress, Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen of the Trinamool, Rajeev Satav, Sanjay Singh of the AAP and K.K. Ragesh and E Kareem of the CPI-M.
The opposition members indulged in sloganeering after the goal was moved by voice vote.
Prior, Naidu said that it was a “sad day for democracy” and “unfortunate” and “condemnable”, as he dismissed a no-certainty motion against Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh.
The Rajya Sabha saw bedlam on Sunday as the government tried to get cleared two of the three contentious farm Bills during the unwavering protests. O’Brien purportedly tore a rule book while Satav and Sanjay Singh climbed on a table in the House to protest.
