Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 10

High drama was witnessed in the Rajya Sabha during the second half of its proceedings as a few opposition members climbed on the reporters’ table during a discussion on the farmers’ issue.

Have no regrets, will do it again

I have no regrets. I will do it a 100 times again if the govt does not give us an opportunity to discuss the black farm laws and farmers’ stir. I will be happy if the govt punishes me for highlighting the farmers’ cause. — Partap Singh Bajwa, Congress Rajya Sabha MP

The opposition MPs raised slogans and said the relevant notices have not been taken care of. Due to the pandemonium, the House was adjourned till 2.32 pm, then till 3.03 pm. and again till 4 pm and finally for the day.

Even as officials in the Rajya Sabha secretariat remained tightlipped over any action to be taken against the MPs for their unprecedented act, indications emerged from the government side that they would press for it claiming that the opposition members broke all barriers of unparliamentary behaviour.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh was the first to climb the table when BJD’s Prasanna Acharya was speaking and waved a black cloth at the Chair.

After marshals brought Singh down from the table, Congress’ Pratap Bajwa climbed the table and then threw a file at the Chair, but nobody was sitting there. Congress’ Ripun Bora was also seen standing on the table for some time. When the House re-assembled, Sanjay Singh was joined by CPI’s Binoy Viswam, CPM’s V Sivadasan, Congress’ Deepender Hooda, Ripun Bora and Rajamani Patel.

The Opposition protested as soon as Bhubaneswar Kalita, who was presiding over the proceedings of the House, called for a short duration discussion on “agricultural problems and solutions”.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said, “My notice was for calling attention motion on the farmers’ protest, but it was turned into a short duration discussion without taking a sense of the House.”