Government-Opposition uproar in Parliament: People's Rs. 54 crore smoke

(PTI) New Delhi, Dt

The second week of the monsoon session is coming to an end, but the situation in Parliament remains tense. The government also does not want to give political advantage to the opposition as it maintains a firm stance on the issue of demand for discussion on the global Pegasus espionage scandal just a day before the start of the monsoon session of Parliament. The Opposition has continued to rant on issues like agricultural laws, inflation. The opposition also disrupted parliamentary proceedings on Thursday, demanding a debate on the Pegasus issue. During this time, the people's Rs. 2 crore rupees was spent. In addition, the actions of MPs in both the House proceedings have gone to a much lower level. On the other hand, amid opposition frenzy, the government has passed two bills in the Lok Sabha and one in the Rajya Sabha, sending a clear message to the opposition that the government does not care about their pressure.

Even on the ninth day of the monsoon session, the proceedings of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha could not take place due to the hustle and bustle of the Opposition. Parliament has been in session for only nine days of the monsoon session, which began on July 15, with only four hours of proceedings in the Lok Sabha and 4.5 hours in the Rajya Sabha in the last seven days. In the Lok Sabha, 4 hours were spent in chaos, while in the Rajya Sabha, 2.5 hours were spent.

The opposition made it clear on Thursday that the war in parliament would not stop until the government was ready to discuss the Pegasus espionage issue. On the other hand, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has warned lawmakers in the House against taking action against him. The 'The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill' and the 'Factor Exchange (Amendment) Bill 2021' were passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday amid opposition frenzy. Amidst the commotion of the Opposition, the government also passed the Coconut Development Board (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Rajya Sabha. Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for Friday as proceedings were also disrupted on Thursday.

Opposition MPs in both the houses of Parliament also rushed to the Well on Thursday and chanted slogans against the government on various issues. The Rajya Sabha proceedings were then adjourned. Opposition groups called for a debate on the Pegasus spy scandal in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah, but both houses had to adjourn. In the end, the proceedings of both the houses were adjourned till Friday.

Meanwhile, ignoring the opposition's hype, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaram passed a bill seeking amendments to the Appropriation Bill and Bankruptcy Act with supplementary demands. Even today, the entire focus of the government was on passing bills. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, including Rahul Gandhi, rejected the Speaker's notice to adjourn the House on the issue of espionage scandal and allowed the entire Question Hour to run amidst loud noise. Opposition members chanted anti-government slogans in the area.

Speaking on the Opposition's demand for a debate on the Pegasus issue in the House, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, "Our Minister had introduced the Suomoto statement in the Rajya Sabha." Discussion takes place after the statement is presented in the Rajya Sabha. But opposition leaders tore up the minister's statement. This shows that the opposition does not want to debate in the House. He just wants to make a fuss in the house. Even in the Lok Sabha, the Opposition had torn papers and acted improperly.

The main points of contention between the government and the opposition

Nishikant Dubey Vs. Mahua Moitra: In the Lok Sabha on Thursday, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey lashed out at a Trinamool Congress MP, saying that Mahua Moitra called me a 'Bihari goon'. He claimed that Mahua Moitra had said these words during a meeting of the parliamentary committee on IT. This is divisive politics. Nishikant Dubey has also complained about the issue. On the other hand, responding to these allegations, he said that he likes to laugh at such allegations. If Nishikant Dubey was not present at the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on IT, then where is the question to say anything to him? Congress MP Shashi Tharoor declined to comment on the issue. The issue caused a great deal of controversy in the House.

Not a single death due to lack of oxygen: In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on July 21, the Center had said that no deaths were reported due to lack of oxygen in any state or union territory during the second wave of the Koro epidemic. With this response, the Center came under fire from the Opposition. The Opposition also made a big fuss in Parliament on this issue. Congress MP K.C. Venugopal had questioned the death in the Rajya Sabha due to lack of oxygen.

Opposition to the new agricultural law: Opposition has been campaigning for the repeal of the new agriculture law since November last year in support of farmers who have been protesting on the Delhi border. Shiromani Akali Dal MPs have been protesting in the Parliament premises for nine days. Rahul Gandhi also reached Parliament in a tractor in protest of these laws. Apart from this, farmers 'organizations have been running a farmers' parliament on Jantar Mantar since July 8 during the monsoon session.

Pegasus espionage controversy: Parliament's proceedings have been most disrupted by the Pegasus espionage controversy. Just a day before the start of the monsoon season, there was a controversy that thousands of people were being spied on globally. The Opposition is seeking an answer from the Prime Minister and Home Minister on this issue. The Pegasus scandal is being chanted in the House. Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that there was no explanation on the Peggas issue and the government must respond. Thirteen opposition parties have united on this issue.