Farm Bills: 8 MPs Suspended, Rajya Sabha Adjourned Amid Opposition Protests
Image Courtesy: DNA India
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned again on Monday, as the stand-off between the Opposition and the government intensified after suspension of eight MPs for the rest of the session.
The Opposition protested the suspension of the MPs for a week. The suspended MPs are Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen, CPIM)’s K K Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem, Congress’s Rajeev Satav, Syed Nazir Hussain and Ripun Boren and Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay Singh.
Incidentally, farmers across states, especially in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra among others have been on the streets, demanding immediate withdrawal of the Bills on agri trade that they say will hurt their livelihood and benefit corporate interests.
As the House re-assembled on Monday after a stormy Sunday, the Rajya Sabha chairman, M Venkaiah Naidu rejected the Opposition no-confidence motion brought against deputy chairman Harivansh, and instead suspended eight MPs for “unruly” behaviour.
Naidu termed the behaviour of members during the passage of the Bills on Sunday as "very unfortunate, unacceptable and condemnable" and one that has "tarnished the image of Parliament, particularly elders' House."
Following this, the Opposition members protested against the decision, leading to adjournment of the proceedings for about 20 minutes.
The no-confidence motion against Harivansh was moved by Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and 46 other MPs.
On Sunday, the two Bills -- 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 -- were passed by voice vote, with the government refusing a request for division of votes.
The Opposition parties along with some allies of the the ruling National Democratic Alliance, such as the Shiromani Akali Dal, had demanded that the two Bills be sent to a parliamentary committee for greater scrutiny.
Following this, the Opposition members protested against the decision, leading to adjournment of the proceedings for about 20 minutes.
The no-confidence motion against Harivansh was moved by Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and 46 other MPs.
On Sunday, the two Bills -- 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 -- were passed by voice vote, with the government refusing a request for division of votes.
The Opposition parties along with some allies of the the ruling National Democratic Alliance, such as the Shiromani Akali Dal, had demanded that the two Bills be sent to a parliamentary committee for greater scrutiny.
Opposition Parties Protest MPs’ Suspension
Opposition parties hit out at the government on Monday over the suspension of eight Rajya Sabha MPs and are holding a protest on the Parliament premises against the move.
"Suspension of the 8 MPs who fought to protect farmers' interests is unfortunate and reflective of this autocratic Govt's mindset that doesn't respect democratic norms & principles. We won't bow down & we'll fight this fascist Govt in Parliament & on the streets," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a tweet.
Opposition parties like the Congress, CPI(M), Shiv Sena, JDS, TMC, CPI, and the Samajwadi Party are holding a protest on the Parliament premises with placards that read "Murder of Democracy", "Death of Parliament" and "Shame, shame".
"Suspension won't silence us. We will stand with farmers in their fight. Deputy chairman throttled parliamentary procedures yesterday. Suspension of MPs exposed the coward face of the BJP. People will see through the attempt to divert attention from their undemocratic actions," said CPI(M) MP Elamaram Kareem, who is among those suspended.
"Wake up crores of farmers of the country, BJP government has mortgaged your life to Adani-Ambani, wake up and oppose this black law. We are on agitation in Parliament, you should agitate outside. The BJP government has passed a black law against farmers. We were terminated for opposing the bill," said AAP MP Sanjay Singh.
"That is why we are sitting on dharna and will keep sitting till the BJP government explains why this black law was passed by strangling democracy," he added.
The MPs came to the protest site carrying blankets, and pedestal fans were being fitted to help them fight the scorching heat.
(inputs from PTI).
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