Parliament: 12 RS MPs Suspended; Farm Laws Repeal Bill Passed in Both Houses
Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm for a second time.
The Winter Session of Parliament began on Monday, 29 November, with the Opposition sloganeering for discussion on farmers' issues.
(Photo: The Quint)
Twelve Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended for the remaining session of the Parliament on Monday, 29 November.
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 on Monday, was passed in both the houses within minutes of its introduction. The houses saw vehement protest by Opposition MPs, with many ministers sloganeering for a discussion on the matter.
The Winter Session is scheduled to go on until 23 December.
Hours ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his government was "ready to answer all questions" and stressed on the importance of maintaining decorum.
Both houses of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha, will hold proceedings simultaneously for the next 20 working days.
As per a Lok Sabha notice, 26 new bills, including the highly-anticipated bill seeking to ban cryptocurrency and one revoking the three agricultural laws will be introduced in the Parliament during the session.
Past three Parliamentary sessions were also cut short in view of the health emergency.
The Winter Sessions is expected to be stormy as it comes ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, and Goa.
Strangulation of Democracy: Kharge on Suspension of MPs
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge said that the suspension of the 12 MPs was a strangulation of democracy.
"We are meeting tomorrow to discuss future course of action. If voices of those who raise voices for others are suppressed, it's like strangulating the democracy. We condemn it, all parties condemn it," he said, as quoted by ANI.
Oppn Issues Joint Statement Over Suspension of 12 MPs
In a joint statement, leaders of Opposition parties condemn the "unwarranted and undemocratic suspension of 12 MPs."
"Floor leaders of Oppn parties of the Rajya Sabha will meet tomorrow to deliberate on the future course of action to resist authoritarian decision of the government and defend Parliamentary democracy," the statement said.
Opposition to Meet Over Suspension of 12 RS MPs
The Opposition parties have called a meeting on the next course of action over the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs, at LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge's office tomorrow.
Rajya Sabha Adjourned
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day.
'Murder of Democracy': Ripun Bora on Suspension from RS
Congress MP Ripun Bora called his suspension a "murder of democracy" and said that the decision was "one-sided, biased, and vindictive."
"We had protested for the cause of farmers, the poor people and as Parliamentarians, it is our duty to raise the voices of the oppressed, deprived. If we don't raise the voices in Parliament, where will we do that?" he told ANI.
Unfair and Unjust: Congress MP Chhaya Verma on Suspension from RS
Congress' Chhaya Verma called her suspension from Rajya Sabha "unfair and unjust".
There were other members from other parties who created a ruckus but the chairman suspended me. PM Modi is doing just as he wishes since he enjoys a brute majority," she told ANI.
'Check CCTV Footage': Priyanka Chaturvedi on Being Suspended from RS
Speaking to ANI, Chaturvedi said that the CCTV footage must be examined to ascertain the truth.
"If you see the CCTV footage it has been recorded how male marshals were jostling female MPs. All of this on one side and your decision on the other? What kind of unparliamentary behaviour is this?" she said.
12 RS MPss Suspended
Elamaram Kareem - CPM, Phulo Devi Netam, Chhaya Verma, R Bora, Rajamani Patel, Syed Nasir Hussain, Akhilesh Prasad Singh - INC, Binoy Viswam - CPI, Dola Sen & Shanta Chhetri - TMC, Priyanka Chaturvedi & Anil Desai - Shiv Sena suspended for remaining part of the current session
Following Passage of Farm Laws Repeal Bill, RS Adjourned for Half Hr
Rajya Sabha adjourned for a brief period of half an hour after the passage of The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021.
Lok Sabha Adjourned for Today
Lok Sabha was adjourned on Monday, to reconvene again on 30 November at 11 AM.
'Want Discussion on Farm Laws Bill, Lakhimpur': Kharge
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, "We want that there should be a discussion on the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021. But with the passing of this Bill in Lok Sabha in a haste, they (government) just want to prove that they are in the favour of farmers," ANI quoted.
He demanded that the opposition wants a deliberation on the "several incidents that took place during agitation including the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and the electricity bill."
Farm Laws Repeal Bill to be Tabled at 2 pm: Pralhad Joshi
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday claimed that the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 will be tabled in Rajya Sabha at 2pm, ANI reported.
He went on to ask, "During the passing of the farm bills, there was enough discussion. Today, the entire Opposition was demanding to repeal the laws. But when we went to repeal the laws the Opposition created ruckus, I ask the Opposition what is their intention?" ANI reported.
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill Passed in LS Amid Protest, House Adjourned
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 was passed by Lok Sabha amid ruckus brought on by Opposition MPs. Leader of Congress Party in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, demanded discussion on the Bill in the House.
Meanwhile, the house was adjourned till 2 pm in view of the chaos that ensued. Speaker Om Birla had earlier appealed to the Opposition MPs, asking them to maintain order for discussion on the bill.
TMC MPs Stage Protest Over Farm Laws Repeal Bill
Trinamool Congress MPs staged a protest at the Mahatma Gandhi statue, calling for a discussion over Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, ANI reported.
"TMC wanted to have a discussion on Farm Laws Repeal Bill but the government is afraid to discuss the conditions of the farmers. Government is not giving Opposition a chance to speak on behalf of the farmers", TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said.
Lok Sabha Adjourned Amid Sloganeering Over Farmers' Issues
Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon, after Opposition MPs sloganeered for a discussion on farmer's issue.
Winter Session Begins in Both Houses
Winter Session of Parliament begins in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.
Congress Protests for Repeal of Farm Laws
Mere minutes before the session, Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi led a party protest demanding repeal of Centre's three farm laws.
'Important Session, Maintain Decorum': PM Modi
PM Modi on Monday stated, "This is an important session of the Parliament. The citizens of the country want a productive session. They are fulfilling their responsibilities for a brighter future."
He added that his government "is ready to answer all questions during the Winter Session of the Parliament" and appealed to maintain the decorum of the proceedings amid debates.
'A Sunrise for Farmers in Parliament': Rahul Gandhi
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter just hours ahead of the beginning of the session and tweeted in support of the Farm Laws Repealed Bill, stating that the Opposition will rally for a "sunrise for farmers in parliament".
Congress Calls Meeting of RS MPs
Congress has summoned its Rajya Sabha MPs for a meeting at the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) office on Monday.
2 Congress MPs Give Adjournment Motion Notice in LS
Congress MP Manish Tewari gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha in order to initiate discussions on directing the government to create a record of farmers who lost their lives during farm laws protest and provide compensation to their families, ANI reported.
Another Congress MP, Manickam Tagore also handed in an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha 'to direct government to initiate repealing of three farm laws & to announce compensation for families of 700 farmers who had died in the last one year during farmers' protest at Delhi borders'.
CPI MP Issues Suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha
Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Binoy Viswam on Monday, gave a Suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha and demanded a discussion on ensuring a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price, ANI reported.
Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill on the Table
The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021, which is extremely anticipated will also be introduced in the Parliament. The bill seeks to ban all private cryptocurrencies, as well as organise a framework for India's official digital currency.
Farm Laws Repealed Bill Likely to be Introduced Today
After the Cabinet cleared 'The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021' on Wednesday, Union Minister Anurag Thakur had stated that it will be BJP's priority to take back these three laws. A whip was also issued by the BJP to its Rajya Sabha MPs, urging them to be present on the day to carry out some "very important business".
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)