After the commencement of business on the fourth day of the ongoing winter session today, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the House could not transact any business during the last three days. Mr Naidu urged both the Opposition and treasury benches to hold discussions and let the House function, raising concerns over the continued disruptions.
Speaking at the House, the Rajya Sabha Chairman said, "I urge both the sides of this august House to talk it out and let the House do its mandated job."
Days after Mr Naidu suspended 12 members of Parliament for their alleged ''misconduct'' in the House, Rajya Sabha MP Elamaram Kareem, who is one of the suspended MPs, said that he will continue to protest against the illegal and anti-democratic action of the Rajya Sabha Chairman. Mr Kareem said, "We, 12 MPs, had started a dharna. In the morning, our fellow MPs assembled in front of the Gandhi statue near Parliament premises and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi inaugurated the dharna. Our protest is against the illegal, anti-democratic action of the Rajya Sabha Chairman and government."
Opposition members continued to protest today as well against the suspension of 12 of their Rajya Sabha MPs. Several Opposition parties also staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha over the issue of inflation as well as the suspension of MPs.
The winter session of the Parliament commenced on Monday and is likely to conclude on December 23.
Here are the Highlights from Parliament Winter Session 2021:
Raising concerns over the continued disruptions in the ongoing winter session of the Parliament, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu today urged both the Opposition and treasury benches to hold discussions and let the House function.
The Opposition today hit out at the Modi government over the COVID-19 management, accusing it of favouring BJP-ruled states in allocation of vaccines and dubbed the celebrations over the 100-crore vaccination mark as premature.
Congress members walked out of the Rajya Sabha after the Chair rejected demand for a discussion on issue of inflation.
In a statement in Rajya Sabha at 11 am, Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu said: "This is the fourth sitting of the first session of this august House in the 75th year of our hard fought Independence. The House could not transact any business during the last three days. The people of India gave themselves the Constitution of India that stipulated democracy as the instrument of nation building as per the dreams of freedom fighters and the vision of makers of the sacred Constitution. The Constitution cast a huge responsibility on the legislatures and elected representatives of the people."
Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu says Opposition MPs do not want to even express their regret for their conduct. "Suspension cannot be termed as anti-democratic... I appeal to the entire House to ensure that House works."