Opposition members protest introduction, passage of bills amid din in LS

With the government introducing and getting a number of bills passed in Parliament amid a din, Congress leaders alleged in the Lok Sabha on Monday that democracy is being "murdered" in the House.

Congress leaders like Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Manish Tewari attacked the government as it introduced three bills in the House and got as many passed as Opposition members continued with their protests over the Pegasus snooping controversy, except when a Constitution amendment bill was tabled.

RSP's NK Premachandran noted that three bills were passed in 10 minutes and likened it to "cooking dosas".

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi asserted that the government wants long and constructive debates in Parliament and urged the Opposition members to go back to their seats so that discussions on the bills could begin.

 

"We are ready for day-long discussions. The (Narendra) Modi government is bringing bills for the welfare of the Other Backward Classes and tribals. We will accept your suggestions," he said.

A combined Opposition has been demanding that the House debate the Pegasus issue first.

Both Chowdhury and Tewari alleged that democracy is being "murdered" with the government pushing ahead with its legislative agenda in such a manner as the House has not been in order. Joshi's deputy Arjun Ram Meghwal accused the Congress leaders of making wrong statements.

However, the Opposition members stopped shouting slogans and protesting from the Well of the House and most of them went back to their seats when Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar introduced the Constitution (127th Amendment) Bill that seeks to restore the states' power to classify the backward classes.

The Lok Sabha is likely to debate the bill on Tuesday.

A Constitution amendment bill requires the House to be in order during its passage as a division of votes is mandatory.

Most parties are likely to support the bill.