Congress blames 'circumstances' for ruckus in Lok Sabha

Reacting on the suspension of eight opposition MPs of Rajya Sabha following a ruckus inside the Upper House, Congress General Secretary in-charge KC Venugopal blamed the saffron party for misleading the country by introducing the 'anti-farm' bill in the Lok Sabha. He also asserted to verify the circumstances over which the ruckus was created in the House.

New Delhi: After eight opposition MPs of Rajya Sabha got suspended for the rest of the Monsoon session for their 'unruly behaviour' during the passage of farm bills, several videos of ruckus created in the house also got viral. However, Congress put the blame on 'circumstances' while alleging the Central Government of violating democratic norms of Parliament.

After a heated debate, Rajya Sabha passed the agriculture bills amid an uproar from opposition due to which some leaders started protesting within the House. In a video, TMC MP Derek O'Brien was seen charging towards the podium of Deputy Chairman, to show him rule book after which he even tore some official papers.

When asked about the matter, Congress General Secretary in-charge KC Venugopal said to ETV Bharat, "You have to verify the circumstances. The Government has violated the entire norms and procedures of the Parliamentary democracy before bulldozing this anti-farmer law. That is why there will be some genuine protests on the members part."

Attacking Congress party over the matter, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi shared a video in his tweet where Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Satav is clearly being seen protesting while standing on a table in front of Deputy Speaker's podium. Naqvi tweeted, "Congress and company don't want discussion or division only disruption and confusion."

Clarifying the incident Venugopal said, "We hadn't done anything in Rajya Sabha. The fundamental right of a member is questioned, then what is the purpose of holding this Parliament session? If we are not able to raise the feelings and sentiments of the farmers, then what is the purpose of conducting a session?"

The Opposition had alleged that the deputy speaker of Rajya Sabha passed the bills in a hurry without letting them have its say and also denied to have a division of votes for the amendments suggested.

Congress, on Monday, announced that the party will hold a nationwide demonstration under which the party will collect signatures of 2 crore farmers on a memorandum against these bills, which will later be submitted to the President of India.

"What we had witnessed in Rajya Sabha yesterday and today, we didn't expect this type of attitude from a democratic Government. This type of bill, which is going to have serious apprehensions among the farmers of the country, there should be a parallel discussion," Venugopal said during the press conference.