Rajya Sabha proceedings on Tuesday were forced to adjourn thrice as Congress and other opposition parties demanded a discussion on the issue of farmers‘ protest over the three contentious farm laws.
In the morning session, the House was adjourned first for about 40 minutes. As the House met again at 10.30 am the opposition parties continued their demands leading to another adjournment till 11:30 am. The uproar further continued when the House re-assembled at 11.30 am as several protesting members trooped in prompting the Deputy Chairman to adjourn the House proceedings till 12:30 pm.
The Deputy Chairman did appeal to the opposition members to follow COVID-19 protocols and return to their seats; however, they heed to his requests. Members of Congress, Left, TMC, DMK, and RJD walked out from Rajya Sabha when their demand for suspension of day’s business for taking up the discussion on farmers’ protest was rejected by the Chairman.
To disrupt the Question Hour, members of opposition continued shouting slogans. Consequentially, the House had to be adjourned till 10.30 am. The sloganeering continued even when the House met at 10:30 amand the Deputy Chairman tried to convince the members to allow the House to function.
Earlier, Congress, Left, TMC, and DMK had given a notice for setting aside of business of the day to take up a discussion on the issue pressed. Venkaiah Naidu, Chairman had disallowed the motion stating that the members were free to raise the issue during the discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.
He added that the President had referred to the farmer’s protest in his address made at the start of the Budget session of Parliament. While the government has projected the new laws as positive reforms in agriculture that will bring opportunities to farmers, thousands of farmers have been protesting at the Delhi borders for more than two months demanding repealing of the three farm laws. The protesting farmers have expressed their apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system and leave them at the “mercy” of big corporations.
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy of TMC said the House is not aware of what is going on between the government and farmers and the House should discuss the issue separately from the Motion of Thanks. However, Venkaiah Naidu said that the opposition members should take the opportunity tomorrow as ten hours have been allotted for discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President’s address and equal time given for discussion on Budget.
