The first to reach the well of the House were Trinamool MPs Arpita Ghosh and Dola Sen, MPs Kumari Shelja and Jairam Ramesh, and AAP legislator Sanjay Singh. Then TMC leader Derek O’Brien also approached the well with the rule book to show that it was a violation of House rules not to allow split votes or voting by pressing the button. O’Brien’s actions are now embroiled in controversy, with some insisting that he tore the pages of the rule book. A close look at the Rajya Sabha images adds to the confusion. It shows DMK MP Tiruchi Siva throwing a book even when O’brien was near the chair, showing the vice president the particular rule about button voting.
Later, in back-to-back high-profile press conferences, both the BJP and Congress blamed each other for tarnishing the image of Parliament because of what happened in Rajya Sabha on Sunday such as the two controversial agricultural bills: Commerce and Commerce of Agricultural Products (Promotion and Facilitation), 2020, and the Agricultural Price Assurance and Services Agreement for Farmers (Empowerment and Protection), 2020 – were approved amid a massive uproar via voice vote. Farmers also staged various protests during the day in various places, especially in Punjab and Haryana, against the bills.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, flanked by five other Union cabinet ministers, addressed a press conference on Sunday evening and condemned the alleged misconduct with Vice President Harivansh Narayan Singh by members of the opposition . He said “democracy was embarrassed” by the conduct of opposition deputies in the Upper House of Parliament, adding that he is also a farmer and no one should believe that the government would do anything to harm farmers.
Minutes later, Congress said members were upset with the way the bills were being passed, while noting that everyone went to the well of the House, including the leaders of the BJP, and called it a conspiracy of the ruling party.
Congressional chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the same parliament to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had bowed his head after coming to power had been embarrassed by the conduct of its ministers.
A video shows some torn pages being thrown at the same time. O’brien, however, denies breaking the rule book. “If there is proof that I have broken the rule book, I will resign as a deputy tomorrow,” he told News18.
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