India

Rajya Sabha witnesses an unprecedented 11 adjournments in a single day

The Rajya Sabha today witnessed an unprecedented 11 adjournments amid a clash between the government and the opposition over how an anti-graft bill should be passed and continued disruptions that prompted the Chair to lament the “murder of democracy”.

While the House was first adjourned till 2 PM within 20 minutes after it met at 11 AM due to unrelenting opposition protests, it saw ten adjournments in a row in a space of three hours, after it re-convened in the afternoon. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu called the protests, which have not allowed any business to be transacted since the House met on March 5, as a “murder of democracy”.

Naidu expressed displeasure over repeated disruptions since Parliament met early last month for the second half of the Budget session. He requested members to return to their seats and at least pass the anti-corruption bill. He said handful of people were obstructing proceedings over their agenda.

When the House met at 2 PM, members of Congress, AIADMK, BSP, CPI-M, AAP, TDP and YSR were in the Well holding placards and shouting slogans — “Narendra Modi – Dalit Virodhi” (Narendra Modi is anti-Dalit) and “Dalit virodhi yeh sarkar, nahi chalegi” (this anti-Dalit government will not be tolerated).

Amid the din, the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2013 was taken up for consideration and passage by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, who asked Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh to move the bill for consideration, saying he would proceed with it as no member has given their name for a debate on it.

The bill aims to make giving a bribe a specific offence like taking a bribe and seeks to modify the definitions and penalties for such offences, among other things. When the minister said the bill should just be passed without debate, Kurien asked TMC member Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, who had moved amendments to it, whether he would seek a division to enable voting on his amendments.

As Ray insisted on a division, Kurien said the division cannot be taken up as the House is not in order.

Congress Deputy Leader Anand Sharma then raised a point of order saying the new members, who took oath over the past few days, had not been given division numbers which enables them to exercise their voting right. He said in such a situation, the bill cannot be passed.

But Kurien said “this bill is important. If it is not passed, it will have impact on all government programmes. This bill is in the interest of the country. Therefore, the bill has to be passed” and urged the protesting members to go back to their seats. The Opposition wants discussion and the government is ready for it, he said and asked the protesting members to take the opportunity to prove their majority at the time of voting.

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