Parliament: Opposition Refuses to Relent on Pegasus, Farm Laws; Both Houses Adjourned Again

New Delhi: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Thursday as Opposition members continued their protest over Pegasus and other issues.

When the Lok Sabha  met at 12:30 pm, Rajendra Agrawal, who was chairing the proceedings, took up papers to be laid by ministers.

As protests continued, he adjourned the House till 2 pm.

Earlier in the day, Speaker Om Birla had expressed his displeasure over unruly behaviour by some opposition members and said he was "very hurt" over Wednesday's incident.

On Wednesday, when papers were being laid in the House, Congress members Gurjeet Aujala, TN Prathapan, Hibi Eden and some others had thrown business papers of the day as well as torn pieces of paper and placards at the Chair.

A piece of the torn placard landed in the press gallery just above the Speaker's podium.

As Opposition continued their protest on Pegasus snooping controversy and three farm bills, Birla adjourned the House till 11.30 am.

After the Question Hour ended at 12 noon, Agrawal, who was chairing the proceedings of the House, asked protesting members to go back to their respective seats.

"We are starting Zero Hour, please go back to your seats," he appealed to the members. Soon after, he adjourned the House till 12:30 pm.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said the Opposition has not been able to put forth its point due to the stubborn attitude of the government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the members who resorted to tearing papers don't even want to apologise.

The Opposition members have been protesting over the Pegasus snooping controversy and three farm Acts.

Rajya Sabha proceedings, too, were adjourned till  2 p.m as Opposition members created an uproar over Pegasus and various other issues.

Soon after the listed papers were laid on the table of the House, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has not accepted the notices given by various opposition party members under Rule 267 for suspension of the business to allow discussion on their issues.

This was protested by Congress MPs and several of them were on their feet.

"What is all this? What is happening? ...You go to your seats," the Chairman said, as TMC members trooped in the Well of the House, with some carrying placards. They were later joined by Congress members.

Naidu asked the protesting members to return to their seats, but they did not yield.

Rajya Sabha MPs, who had given the notice under Rule 267 for suspension of the business, include, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray (TMC), Amee Yajnik (Cong), Neeraj Dangi (Cong), Elamaram Kareem (CPI-M), Binoy Viswam (CPI), Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), Vishambhar Prasad Nishad (SP), and Ripun Bora (Cong).

Naidu said he had gone through the notices and decided not to admit them.