Monsoon Session Ends Ahead of Schedule; Ruckus in Rajya Sabha on Last Day

A total of 19 Bills were passed in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session.

Rajya Sabha passed three bills on 9 August including The Taxation Laws Amendment Bill 2021.

(Photo: PTI)

After passing the Constitution amendment bill which restores the powers of states and Union Territories to put together their own Other Backward Castes (OBCs) list, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, 11 August.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2021, was passed after 187 members voted in favour of it.

Chaotic scenes had unfolded in the Upper House yet again on Wednesday and the Monsoon Session concluded two days ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha recorded a productivity of 28% and as per news agency ANI, a total of 17 sittings were held in the House that functioned for around 28 hours.

A total of 19 Bills were passed in the Rajya Sabha, which has been witnessing a deadlock over contentious matters such as the Pegasus spying reports and the agricultural laws.

Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu broke down in the House as he addressed the session and expressed 'deep anguish' over the ruckus created by MPs a day ago.

On Tuesday, Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa had climbed atop a table and was seen throwing an official file at the Chair over a decision to allow a short discussion on 'agricultural problems and solution' instead of one on three farm Bills that they have been demanding.

Ruckus in Rajya Sabha

Speaking at the adjournment, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal demanded a special committee to probe the incidents of 'gross indiscipline' by the Opposition and urged for action against them.

"Opposition's intentions were on full display today. The way attempts were made to attack panel chairman, table staff and the secretary-general. In a condemnable incident, attempts were made to strangulate a woman security staff," Goyal said, ANI reported.

He further claimed that opposition members tried to stop him and the the parliamentary affairs minister from getting out of their chambers.

NCP leader Sharad Pawar also stated, "In my 55 years of parliamentary career, I never saw the way the women MPs were attacked today (in Rajya Sabha). More than 40 men and women were brought into the House from outside. It is painful. It is an attack on democracy."

Meanwhile, amid repeated adjournments, opposition MPs had also staged a walkout from the parliament following Wednesday's ruckus.

The General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill was passed in the upper house amid staunch protest.

(With inputs from ANI)