Absence of Opposition in Rajya Sabha passed seven bills in three and a half hours

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Today has been one of the most productive days in the history of the Rajya Sabha. In just three-and-a-half hours, the Rajya Sabha passed seven important bills, including the removal of grains, pulses and onions from the list of essential commodities and the abolition of fines imposed on companies for certain offenses.

Meanwhile, the monsoon session of the Lok Sabha is likely to end on Wednesday, eight days earlier, following the spread of the corona virus among MPs. The bills were passed in his absence as the opposition boycotted the House proceedings on Monday in protest of the suspension of eight MPs for misconduct in the Rajya Sabha.

Only the ruling BJP, its allies JDU and AIADMK, Biju Janata Dal, YSR Congress and TDP were present in the House. These parties supported the Modi government by participating in discussions on various issues, including agricultural bills.

In the absence of the opposition, seven bills, including the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, the third of three controversial agricultural bills, were passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill removes grains, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onions and potatoes from the list of essential commodities and also removes the stock holding limit on them.

On the other hand, in the absence of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha too, the government had passed three labor bills. Opposition parties, including the Congress in the Lok Sabha, have boycotted the House for the rest of the session in protest of the suspension of eight Rajya Sabha MPs and agricultural bills.

Labor Minister Santosh Gangwar said three important labor codes have been passed across the country, providing a decent working environment, pay security and social security to more than 500 million workers across the country, a historic day for the Lok Sabha.