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The proceedings in the Lok Sabha have been adjourned for the day amid disruptions by members of the Opposition, and will now resume on Thursday, 22 July.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha resumed after the session was disrupted and adjourned earlier in the day due to uproar by Opposition members.
With COVID-19 on the agenda for discussion, the Congress slammed the Centre in the Upper House for flouting norms during election rallies and demanded accountability.
Ahead of the beginning of the session, PM Modi had said there should be meaningful discussions about the pandemic "that has gripped the entire world"
The Monsoon session comes amid reports that Israel-made spyware Pegasus is believed to have been used to snoop on at least 300 Indian phone numbers
The Pegasus spyware row is expected to rock the Monsoon Session of the Parliament
Both the Houses – the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha – will meet daily from 11 am to 6 pm on all days
The session is likely to conclude on 13 August, with around 19 sittings scheduled during this time
At least 23 bills have been listed by the Centre to be tabled in the Lok Sabha during the upcoming session
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PM Modi is likely to hold a meeting with the floor leaders of all parties in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, in which the COVID-19 vaccination policy is expected to be discussed and a presentation on the handling of the pandemic is to be given, sources cited by ANI said.
Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will make a statement on 'Pegasus Project' issue in Rajya Sabha today, reports ANI.
Congress Lok Sabha members will meet at the CPP Office today at 10.30 am to chalk out the floor strategy on the issue of 'Pegasus Project' media reports.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore has given an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha on the issue of reports on 'Pegasus Project'.
CPI(M) floor leader in Rajya Sabha MP Elamaram Kareem has given a notice under Rule 267 to suspend the business and discuss the alleged spying by the government on opposition party leaders, journalists, judges, and even union ministers using Pegasus spyware.
A BJP all-MP meeting was held on Tuesday at the Parliament, ahead of Day 2 of the Monsoon Session.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Opposition will raise the isssue of Pegasus spyware in the House today.
"We will raise this issue. Nobody is obstructing nation's development, it's them (BJP) who have obstructed it. They have earned lakhs and crores of money by imposing cess, hiking fuel price, wasting money on projects," he said, as quoted by ANI.
Expressing disappointment on the ruckus in the Parliament on Monday, Ajay Bhatt, MoS Tourism, urged MPs to let the House run smoothly.
"Sad with what happened yesterday. The newly-appointed ministers could not be introduced because of Opposition ruckus (in Rajya Sabha). This forum is to put forth views in line with the House decorum. I urge all MPs to let the House run smoothly," he told ANI.
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 pm soon after it began amid uproar by the Opposition leaders in the House.
Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid uproar by the Opposition.
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury took a jibe at the BJP over the Pegasus row.
"Have you ever heard of the usage of intelligence system by the Congress and any spying of this kind? This is a strategy of making new India," he told ANI.
Former Union Minister And Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that her party was the only one raising the issue of farm laws in the Parliament.
The Congress yesterday raised all issues in the Lok Sabha, other than farmers' issues. It doesn't care about the farmers. Both AAP and the Congress had walked out when farm laws were introduced. They are tw-faced. Only the SAD is raising it. We will file for House adjournment even today," she told ANI.
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned until 1 pm. The House will discuss COVID-19 after it resumes.
"All leaders met with the chairman as they wanted to have a discussion on COVID-19. The Rajya Sabha Chairman has given his consent. It will be discussed at 1 pm," Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that Prime Minister Modi has expressed concern over the Opposition's conduct in the House.
"PM Modi said that the pandemic isn't a political but a humanitarian issue for us. It was for first time in 100 years when a huge population got ration and not even single person slept hungry. We did it successfully. It's our responsibility and wasn't a favour to anybody," he told ANI.
"PM Modi expressed great concern over the Opposition's stand, especially the Congress, who instead of raising people's issues is thinking that being in power is their right. PM Modi wants the discussion to be fruitful but the Congress is showing irresponsible behaviour," he added.
Congress MP DK Suresh travelled to the Parliament on a bicycle to protest against fuel price hike.
"I am travelling via bicycle because petrol price is too much. It's difficult for common man to survive with 15-20% inflation," he told ANI.
Shiv Sena MPs Vinayak Raut, Gajanan Kirtikar, Arvind Sawant, Sadashiv Lokhande, Krupal Tumane, Dhairyasheel Mane and Balu Dhanorkar submitted a memorandum to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking a probe in the 'Pegasus Project' media reports by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge paid tributes to COVID-19 warriors as the House resumed to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I pay tribute to COVID warriors including doctors and paramedics. I salute the people who helped others by running 'oxygen langer' in Delhi during the second wave of COVID-19. I also want to salute plasma donors, who came out in support," he said.
He further slammed the Centre for flouting rules during election rallies and announcing an overnight lockdown that affected livelihoods.
"The government asked people to wear masks and maintain social distancing. But what were they doing? During elections in different states, they broke their own rules. They should be given credit for flouting COVID norms," he said.
The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 22 July.
Published: 20 Jul 2021,08:33 AM IST