What happened on Day 1 of Parliament Winter Session: 10 points
The Winter Session of the Parliament commenced with a lot of chaos. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were both adjourned twice. Nonetheless, a few highlights came through the cantankerous Parliament.
Here are 10 things to know from the first day of the Winter Session of the Parliament:
1. FARM LAWS REPEAL BILL PASSED IN LS
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill was passed in Lok Sabha through a voice vote within 5 minutes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced on November 19 that the controversial farm laws – which has seen nationwide protests by farmers since last year – would be taken back in the next session of the Parliament.
2. OPPOSITION NOT HAPPY IN LS
The Opposition was not happy with the way the Farm Laws Repeal Bill was passed. The Opposition leaders kept sloganeering throughout the Lok Sabha session and throughout the passing of the Farm Laws Repeal Bill. Some trooped into the Lok Sabha well.
This forced Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to cut short the session twice. First, Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm, then it was adjourned till 11 am on Tuesday.
3. ‘NO DISCUSSION,’ CRIES CONGRESS
Congress hit out at the BJP-led government saying that they passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill without any discussion. Congress floor leader at Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told Speaker Om Birla that the Bill mentioned a discussion, which was not being conducted.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted that just like the Farm Laws were passed without discussion last year, its repeal Bill was also passed without the government answering any questions.
3 Anti-Agriculture Laws were passed in Parliament without discussion & have been repealed without discussion.A debate would make the PM & BJP answerable for…• Conspiracy to sell the farming sector at the altar of Crony Friends;• Sacrifice of 700 farmers;• Not giving MSP.
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) November 29, 2021
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had asked the Opposition members to get their house in order to begin a discussion round. He also asked members to not troop into the well of the Parliament. Since the chaos continued, the Speaker said he was forced to cut the session short.
4. RAHUL GANDHI SAYS GOVT IS SCARED
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, reacting to the passing of Farm Laws Repeal Bill, claimed that the government did not allow any discussion since it was 'scared' of answering questions posed by the Opposition.
Earlier, we had said that the govt will have to withdraw the farm laws, and today these laws were repealed. It is unfortunate that the farm laws were repealed without discussion. This government is scared of holding a discussion: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/omuigbn1Tg
— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2021
5. ‘FARMERS' PROTEST WILL CONTINUE’
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said that the farmers' protest will continue despite the Farm Laws Repeal Bill being passed. He said that discussions regarding MSP and other issues are still pending and protests will continue till all the demands are met.
#WATCH | In Mumbai, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait says, "Govt of India should mend its ways and bring a law on MSP. Otherwise, January 26 (Republic Day) is not far, and 4 lakh tractors & farmers all are there." pic.twitter.com/sBMoJ9N1rI
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his last address, announcing the repeal of the laws, had asked protesting farmers to return home since the government was meeting their demand to retract the laws.
6. CHAOS IN RAJYA SABHA
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha and also passed. The Bill was passed through a voice vote, without any discussion, and amid sloganeering by the Opposition.
7. A DOZEN RAJYA SABHA MEMBERS SUSPENDED
12 members of Rajya Sabha, from the Opposition, were suspended for the rest of the winter session following their indiscipline. Rajya Sabha was twice adjourned. It will resume on Tuesday.
8. FINANCE MINISTER RESPONDS TO BITCOIN QUESTION
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in response to a question on Bitcoin stated that the government has not received any proposal to recognise Bitcoin as a currency. She also added that the government doesn’t collect data on Bitcoin transactions.
The response comes following the government’s announcement to table a Cryptocurrency Regulation Bill in the ongoing session of the Parliament.
9. OVER 30 BILLS TO BE INTRODUCED
During the entire Winter Session, over 30 bills will be tabled by the government in the Parliament, including the Bill on Cryptocurrency.
10. PARLIAMENTARIANS EVADING MEDIA GAZE?
Press Club of India pointed out that reporters have been kept out of the Press Gallery for the 5th consecutive session of the Parliament. The body said that it signalled the 'depressing trend' of parliamentarians trying to evade media gaze.
Today is the first day of the Winter Session of 2021. This is also the 5th session when reporters have been deliberately kept out of the Press GalleryAssurances given to us werenot complied with. Adding to that, is a new format of restrictions to thwart the entry of the media pic.twitter.com/51KediFTyb
— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) November 29, 2021
The government had barred entry of journalists in the Parliament's press gallery citing Covid-19 protocols. Except for a handful of journalists, not all mediapersons are allowed entry.