Eight opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha, including TMC leader Derek O’Brien and AAP’s Sanjay Singh, were suspended Monday for the remainder of the Monsoon parliament session for “rebellious behavior” during the passage of two farm bills, which led to protests and laundering of proceedings.
The government had filed a motion requesting the suspension of Derek O’Brien (TMC), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Rajeev Satav (Congress), KK Ragesh (CPM), Syed Nazir Hussain (Congress), Ripun Boren (Congress), Dola Sen (TMC) and Elamaram Kareem (CPM).
Here are the main developments:
Opposition MPs protest against the government
Opposition MPs are holding an “indefinite” protest at the Parliament premises against the suspension of 8 members.
Carrying pillows and blankets at the protest site, the MPs said “we will not give in.”
Parliament monsoon session: latest updates
“The suspension will not silence us. We will support the farmers in their fight. The vice president (Rajya Sabha) strangled parliamentary proceedings yesterday,” said CPI MP (M) Elamaram Kareem, who is among those suspended.
Opposition parties such as Congress, CPI (M), Shiv Sena, JDS, TMC, CPI and the Samajwadi Party are at the protest at the Parliament premises with banners with messages such as “Assassination of democracy”, “Death of parliament” and “Shame, shame”.
Millions of farmers will benefit, says prime minister after government increases MSP of 6 rabi crops
PM Modi He said it was a privilege of the government to work for the welfare of our farmers. “In keeping with our spirit of taking pro-farmer action, the cabinet has made another historic decision to increase MSP. Millions of farmers will benefit from this,” he said.
The government previously raised the minimum price to buy six rabi crops, including wheat, by as much as six percent as it sought to send a strong message to farmers about the continuation of the MSP-based procurement system.
Prasad criticizes opposition leaders over RS rampage
The government accused the opposition leaders of irresponsible conduct in Rajya Sabha during the passage of the farm laws and said they violated the rules by failing to evict the House despite being suspended.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the conduct of opposition leaders in the Upper House of Parliament on Sunday was “shameful” and “irresponsible”.
“We had a clear majority in Rajya Sabha on the agricultural bills,” he said, adding that 110 members supported the bills and just over 70 opposed.
Shiromani Akali Dal delegation meets with the president
A delegation from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by Sukhbir Singh Badal met with President Ram Nath Kovid and asked him not to sign the agricultural bills approved by Rajya Sabha.
“A delegation from Shiromani Akali Dal met with the president and asked him not to sign the ‘anti-farmer’ bills that were forcibly passed in Rajya Sabha. We asked him to return the bills to Parliament,” Badal told journalists.
Previously, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the Union Cabinet over these bills.
Congress to launch nationwide protest
Congress has said it will launch a nationwide agitation against farm laws passed by Parliament and also launch a campaign to collect two million signatures from farmers and poor people against these proposed legislation.
At a press conference after a meeting of top party leaders, KC Venugopal said that a memorandum would be presented to the president later.
Another congressional leader, Randeep Surjewala, said that a series of press conferences against farm laws will also be held across the country.
‘Unworthy’ opposition behavior in RS
The insults of the Rajya Sabha Vice President Harivansh in the House during the passage of the agricultural bills have “hurt” the pride of Bihar, and the people of the state will give an adequate response to the opposition parties for this, the top leaders of the Bihar NDA led by the BJP. said.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that what happened in Rajya Sabha on Sunday was very wrong and that the more it was condemned, the less it would be.
Bihar Chief Deputy Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said that the people of the state, where the assembly elections will soon be held, will give an adequate response about the “unworthy” behavior of the opposition in Rajya Sabha.
21st century need for agricultural invoices: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that the agriculture sector reform bills passed by Parliament were the 21st century India need and again assured farmers that the government purchase of their products along with the minimum price mechanism of support will continue.
Modi again mounted a strong defense of these measures, saying that farmers will now have the freedom to sell their products at the place and price of their choice.
Attacking critics, he said that a “clique” of people exploited farmers during the time they were chained to the rules that regulate the sale of their products and claimed that this should change, which his government has done.
10 central unions to support farmers’ protest nationwide on Friday
Up to 10 central unions have announced their support for the September 25 national protest by peasants and agricultural workers to oppose the passage of two agricultural bills in Parliament, saying that BJP the government should stop measures against farmers.
The joint platform of central unions and sectoral federations declares its unconditional support for the initiative of the Joint Platform of Peasant and Agricultural Workers’ Organizations – All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee to carry out protests and resistance across the country on 25th of September 2020, the central unions said in a joint statement.
The ten unions are NTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.
Opposition parties seek to meet with the president
Various parties not part of the NDA wrote to the president Ram Nath Kovind on how the government “pushed his agenda” and urged him not to consent to the proposed legislation.
According to sources, leaders of various political parties, including Congress, the Left parties, NCP, DMK, SP, Trinamool Congress and the RJD have requested in a memorandum to the President his intervention in the matter and asked him not to sign the draft law.
Bills will become law only after the President gives them consent.
Mamata says the suspension of RS deputies reflects the autocratic mentality of the government
The TMC denounced the suspension of eight MPs from Rajya Sabha, and its leader, the West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee, called the action a reflection of the government’s “autocratic mentality”.
Accusing the BJP of killing democracy, the head of the Trinamool Congress declared that she will fight against the “fascist” government in Parliament and on the streets.
“The suspension of the 8 MPs who fought to protect the interests of farmers is regrettable and reflects this autocratic mentality of the government that does not respect democratic norms and principles. We will not bow down and fight against this fascist government in Parliament and on the streets . #BJPKilledDemocracy, “he tweeted.
If it’s a watershed moment, why aren’t farmers celebrating: KTR
Telangana Acting President Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Cabinet Minister KT Rama Rao disagreed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that the passage of agricultural bills in Parliament is a “watershed moment” for the agricultural sector.
“If the agriculture bill is truly a watershed moment, why is no farmer celebrating and why are the NDA allies resigning?” Rama Rao asked in an apparent reference to Modi’s comment.
After the passage of the two bills by Rajya Sabha on Sunday, the prime minister described it as a watershed moment.
Rama Rao, who is the minister of industry, information technology, municipal administration and urban development, led Twitter Monday, contesting Modi’s claim.
8 Rajya Sabha MPs suspended
Rajya Sabha President M Venkaiah Naidu suspended several MPs accused of causing uproar in Parliament.
The motion was proposed by V Muraleedharan, the MoS for Parliamentary Affairs.
Earlier, Naidu said it is a sad day for democracy and “unfortunate” and “reprehensible”, he rejected the motion of no confidence against Vice President Harivansh Narain Singh citing rules.
Naidu defended the vice president and said that he has gone into the chamber records and the vice president has followed the rules.
(With contributions from the agency)
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