Two bills introduced amid uproar, Lok Sabha adjourned for the day

New Delhi: A standoff continued for the ninth day between the ruling party and the opposition in the Lok Sabha in the Monsoon session on the Pegasus espionage case and three central agricultural laws and the proceedings of the House on Friday came to a close after a one-time adjournment due to heavy uproar by the opposition members. Adjourned for the day at 12:15.

Some opposition parties, including Congress, demanded an immediate discussion on the Pegasus espionage case, while the government rejected the demand, saying it was not an issue at all. Amidst the uproar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the ‘General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021’ in the House. Forest and Environment and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav introduced the ‘Commission Bill, 2021 for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.

When the proceedings began on Friday morning, members of some opposition parties, including the Congress, started shouting slogans. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla conducted the proceedings of the Question Hour for half an hour amidst the noise. As the uproar by the opposition members continued, Birla adjourned the proceedings of the house at around 11.30 am till 12 noon.

During the Question Hour, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Forest and Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also answered supplementary questions related to their respective ministries. When the proceedings started, the Leader of Congress in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that we have been demanding discussion on the Pegasus espionage case from day one. He said that along with this there is also a topic related to farmers and an issue related to Kovid. Choudhary said that but the government is not discussing it.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on the opposition’s demand to discuss the Pegasus espionage case, said, “It is not an issue”. But they (opposition) are not allowing the House to function for the last 8 days by making excuses.

Question Hour, Right of Members
He said that we want to work on the issues related to the public which have been decided in the Business Advisory Committee. The government does not want any bill to be passed without discussion. He said that the question hour is the right of the members, it should not be hindered. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said that the way you (Lok Sabha Speaker) will ask you to work, we are ready for it.

After this, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla conducted the Question Hour for about half an hour amidst noise and sloganeering by the opposition members. Opposition members were holding placards demanding the abolition of three agricultural laws and a probe into the Pegasus issue. The situation remained the same even after the proceedings started at 12 o’clock. Presiding Chairman Rajendra Agrawal got the necessary papers laid on the table amidst the noise.

The General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021 introduced
During this, the ‘General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021’ and the ‘Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021’ were introduced. After this, Agarwal appealed to the opposition members to go to their places and participate in the proceedings. He said that some important bills have been introduced and the Kovid issue is also to be discussed. Please take part in the discussion.

However, the uproar by the opposition members continued. Seeing the arrangement not being made, the presiding chairman adjourned the proceedings for the whole day at around 12.15 pm after a one-time adjournment. Since Saturday and Sunday are holidays, now the next sitting of the house will be held on Monday. Significantly, members of the opposition parties have been raising slogans in the House since the first day of the current session demanding the Pegasus espionage case and the Centre’s withdrawal of three new agricultural laws. Due to this, the business in the House has been disrupted till now and the proceedings are not going smoothly. The government has passed some bills amidst the noise.