New Delhi: Continuous protests by a united opposition seeking a discussion and independent judicial probe into the Pegasus issue, a repeal of the farm laws and other issues on Monday led to five adjournments in the Lok Sabha and a walkout in the Rajya Sabha. In the Upper House, the government took up the taxation amendment Bill despite the opposition’s firm stand that it first wants the Union to discuss the issues it is raising.
Meanwhile, with the opposition remaining firm on its demands, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has issued a three-line whip to its party MPs in the Rajya Sabha asking them to be present in the House on August 10 and August 11.
Opposition meets, decides to cooperate on OBC Bill amendment
Earlier on Monday, before the parliament proceedings for the week began, leaders of 15 opposition parties including the Congress, Dravidra Munnetra Kazhagam, Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, National Conference, Indian Union Muslim Leagues, Loktantrik Janata Dal, Revolutionary Socialist Party and Kerala Congress (M) met in the office of leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge. The opposition members have met like this several times in this monsoon session to present a united face on the issues of Pegasus, farm laws and their other demands.
After the meeting, the opposition parties stated that they have decided to back the constitution amendment bill that seeks to restore power of states and union territories to make their own lists of Other Backward Classes. Announcing the decision, Kharge said the leaders of the opposition have decided to support this Bill “in the interest of the community and the country”. However, he added that they want a proper discussion on the Bill on the floor of the House.
Kharge also clarified that the opposition parties have decided to cooperate with the government in parliament only on this Bill. “Other issues are a different matter altogether, but we are ready to get this Bill passed,” he said.
Tiwari moves notice for discussion on Pegasus
Meanwhile, Congress MP Manish Tewari moved an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha over the Pegasus report. He said the spyware issue was a “matter of grave concern” and referred to how “reports have pointed out that the Government of India has procured the surveillance tool Pegasus developed by Israeli company NSO Group for surveillance of journalists, civil society activists, politicians and Supreme Court Judges.”
Tiwari also noted that “reputed agencies”’ like Citizen Lab have found traces of the spyware on some of the devices that were attacked and stated that “since the NSO Group’s policy is that clients are confined to the vetted government only it suggests that the spyware was used by the GoI and not any other private body”.
The lawyer-politician also stated that “this kind of surveillance classifies as hacking, which is what spyware does and it would very much qualify as unauthorised interception or hacking as per Information Technology Act, 2000.”
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Adding that “the government has not categorically denied that Pegasus has been used officially”, he therefore stated that it was a matter of “grave concern” and he be allowed to raise it.
Tiwari also suggested that the opposition should consider bringing a vote of a no-confidence motion against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government since the stalemate over Pegasus, farmers’ agitation, COVID-19 mismanagement and other issues was continuing.
However, as the Speaker did not allow any discussion on any of the issues, the opposition members continued with their loud protests during the day. This resulted in five adjournments in the Lok Sabha.
LS passes three Bills amid protests, without proper discussion
At 12:30 pm, when the House reassembled, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman rose to speak on The Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2021. This evoked strong protests from the opposition members who moved into the well of the House. In the commotion, the Bill was passed by the House.
The finance minister then moved that the Bill to amend the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961, as passed by Rajya Sabha, be taken into consideration. This Bill, which guarantees depositors Rs 5 lakh in case of failure of a bank, was also passed without any proper discussion.
The Lok Sabha then also passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which seeks to amend the constitutional list of Scheduled Tribes as recommended by Arunachal Pradesh.
Thereafter, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the government has not been allowing a discussion on any of the important bills. Meanwhile, TMC leader Sudip Bandopadhyay urged the speaker to not allow the government to pass the the SC/ST Amendment Bill without a discussion. His demand was supported by MPs of DMK and NCP.
Opposition walks out as retrospective tax amendment Bill is moved
With the Opposition continuing with its protests, the House was then adjourned till 2 pm and thereafter for the day.
In the Rajya Sabha, the proceedings went on till past 5 pm. Here too, opposition protests continued through the day. The House was first adjourned till noon, then till 2 pm and again till 3 pm in view of the opposition protests. Thereafter the Upper House passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021 and the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021, that proposes setting up of a central university in UT of Ladakh.
Thereafter, as the House took up The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the opposition staged a walkout. The Bill, which is a money Bill, was then returned to Lok Sabha by the Upper House without any recommendations. This has now paved the way for withdrawal of all the tax demands made on companies like Cairn Energy and Vodafone by the Centre using the 2012 legislation on indirect transfer of Indian assets prior to May 28, 2012. Following this, the House was adjourned for the day.