Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were repeatedly marred on Monday as the Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, SP and Left parties, raised a din over issues like ongoing political crisis in Karnataka, Sonbhadra killings and mob lynching. While the morning session saw two adjournments, the post-lunch session was adjourned once.
As soon as the House reassembled at 2 pm after Question Hour and Zero Hour in the pre-lunch session washed out by the protests, Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai to move The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill 2019 for passage in the House.
Opposition members soon trooped into the well and started raising slogans highlighting various issues like political crisis in Karnataka, killings in Sonbhadra district of UP and mob lynching in Bihar.
Harivansh told members that the Chairman has already given a ruling on the political crisis in Karnataka and that the issue cannot be discussed here as the matter is sub-judice.
Raising a point of order under Rule 95, TMC leader Derek O'Brien said members did not get sufficient time to submit amendments to the Human Rights bill as the draft law was passed by Lok Sabha last week and sent to the House on Friday evening. He pointed that the bill was listed for discussion on Monday without giving sufficient notice to members to file their amendments to the draft law. However, the chair said members had time till noon to file their amendments to the Bill.
Bhupender Yadav (BJP) said the Chairman has power to allow amendments of members. Congress leader Anand Sharma said members should get at least two days notice to file their amendments to the bill. He said the government is in a hurry to pass the bill and members' right to move amendments is being violated.
The Deputy Chairman called out names of two members to move their amendments. But when they did not do so, he considered the amendments are not moved. DMK member Tiruchi Siva said members, who wanted to move amendments, asked the Chair to bring the House in order, "but you presumed that they did not move amendments."
The Deputy Chairman expressed dismay over members throwing pieces of papers on him and other officials sitting below him and asked if this was the way the chair should be treated. O'Brien in the meantime blamed the Chair for not conducting the business in a congenial environment. Amid the din, the Deputy Charmian adjourned the House till 3 PM.
Earlier, proceedings were marred in the pre-lunch period after members of opposition parties vociferously protested over various issues. They raised slogans since the start of the day's proceedings and almost the entire Opposition was together in protesting including Congress, SP, BSP, TMC, CPI and CPI-M besides RJD and AAP.
As soon as the House mourned the death of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and listed official papers laid on the table of the House, opposition members were up on their feet raising their issues.
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the Karnataka issue is pending before the Supreme Court and the House cannot discuss it. As his pleas went unheeded and members started raising slogans, the Chairman adjourned the house till 12.00 pm at 11.10 am.
Similar scenes were witnessed at 12.00 pm soon Harivansh called for the Question Hour. While Minister of State for Environment Babul Supriyo continued to answer a question pertaining to a question on the rehabilitation of villages, the protesting members continued to raise a din and came into the well. Unable to pacify the agitated members, the chair adjourned the proceedings till 2:00 pm.