The Rajya Sabha continued to witness uproar for the eighth consecutive day on Thursday over the Pegasus snooping controversy. The proceedings were marred by repeated adjournments with the Opposition rushing into the Well and raising slogans.
Amidst the din in the post lunch session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021. She said it will provide relief to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector. The bill will help the sector ensure a smoother capital cycle and healthier cash flow, she added.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked the protesting Opposition members, who had trooped into the Well of the House, to return to their seats.
He called the members to participate in the discussion on the bill.
However, barring those from the ruling BJP, AIDMK and TRS, who supported the bill, no one turned up for the discussion. The chair then called Sitharaman for her reply and the bill was passed. After that the deputy chairman adjourned the House till Friday.
The morning session also saw vociferous protest by the Opposition with several members displaying placards and shouting slogans. The proceedings were adjourned twice including the first one till 12.00 pm and then till two pm.
Harivansh persisted with the Question Hour in the pandemonium and of the 15 questions listed, five were taken up.
The Ministers concerned responded to queries raised by the members, but the protesting members were in the Well shouting slogans in regional languages and even whistling.
The chair reminded the protesting members of the resolution adopted during the golden jubilee celebrations of independence that they will preserve the sanctity of the House and no one will disrupt the proceedings.
Earlier, soon after the listed papers were laid on the table of the House, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he had not accepted the notices given by various opposition party members under Rule 267 for suspension of the business to allow a discussion on the issues raised by them.
The members, who had given the notices, included Sukhendu Sekhar Ray (TMC), Amee Yajnik (Congress), Neeraj Dangi (Congress), Elamaram Kareem (CPI-M), Binoy Viswam (CPI), Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), Vishambhar Prasad Nishad (SP) and Ripun Bora (Congress).