Rajya Sabha proceedings were also disrupted for the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday as Opposition parties kept up their protests over the Pegasus snooping row, farm laws and price rise. Amid the din, the Upper House approved the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021 with BJP’s Bhubaneswar Kalita in the Chair. The Bill has already been passed by Lok Sabha.
The Upper House, which has seen continuous protests by the Opposition since the Monsoon session started on July 19 to press for discussions on Peagasus and farm laws, was adjourned thrice before the Chair finally adjourned it for the day. Before the final adjournment was made by Kalita, TMC member Shanta Chettri fainted while protesting alongwith other Opposition members in the Well of the House.
Members rushed to assist her. Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, who was reading out the Statement of her Bill in Bengali at that point of time, too rushed to assist the fainted member following which the House was adjourned for half an hour. Chhetri was then rushed to a hospital.
While moving the bill for consideration in the House, Irani said that despite the disruption, the House will agree that the children of this country deserve their attention for protection and support. However, the opposition members did not return to their seats and the House witnessed continuous uproar.
Early in the day, as Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called for the Zero Hour, where MPs raise issues of public importance, MPs belonging to Congress, TMC and other opposition parties started raising slogans on Pegasus snooping, farm laws, fuel prices and other issues.
They also brought placards and raised slogans like Khela Hobe. As some of them tried to move into the Well of the House, Naidu ordered that no placards will be displayed.
He instructed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to publish the name of MPs and the issue they wanted to raise in the Zero hour.
When the House resumed at noon, Deputy Chairman Harivansh managed to take up all questions listed for the Question Hour amid the din.
As soon as the House resumed after lunch, Kalita, who was in the Chair, called Irani to move The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021 for the consideration of the House.
The minister moved the bill and it was passed amid the din. Thereafter, Kalita adjourned the House for the day.