On Tuesday, the essential defence service bill was passed by Lok Sabha amid protests by opposition members over various issues that led to the proceedings being adjourned for a third time until 4 PM.
Speaker Om Birla asked the protesting members to go back to their seats and said that he would give them a chance to speak as the House reconvened at 2 PM.
However, the protests continued over the Pegasus snooping controversy and the contentious farm laws by the opposition.
Amid the din, the Essential Defence Services Bill 2021 was passed further, and proceedings were then adjourned till 4 PM.
Also read: Lok Sabha passes 2 bills despite protests from Opposition
Sloganeering over alleged snooping
Opposition members came to the well and started sloganeering over the alleged snooping through Pegasus software and demanding to scrap the three farm laws enacted last year in the morning when the House assembled at 11 AM.
During Question Hour, when questions relating to agriculture and farmers’ welfare came for discussion, Birla asked the protesting members to raise farmers-related queries in the House.
Birla stated: “I wanted you to question the minister with regard to farmer welfare, but you are engaging in sloganeering which is not acceptable… You don’t want to discuss farm issues…”
However, members from opposition parties continued their sloganeering.
After allowing the Question Hour to continue for about 40 minutes, Speaker Birla adjourned the House for 20 minutes till noon, amidst the protest.
Bhartruhari Mahtab, Senior MP who was in the chair, first allowed papers related to various ministries to be laid in the House.
Moreover, he announced that the Speaker rejected the adjournment motion moved by a few members.
Mahtab appealed to opposition members to go to their seats as the protests continued so that the House could function normally.
As the opposition ignored his plea, Mahtab adjourned the House until 2 PM after 10 minutes of business.
The House proceedings have been marred since the outset of the Monsoon session on July 19 as opposition members protested mandating discussion on the Pegasus snooping issue and farm laws.
The Essential Defence Services Bill
The Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021, was introduced in Lok Sabha by Mr Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence, on July 22, 2021. The Bill seeks to replace the Ordinance promulgated in June 2021.
The Bill enables the central government to prohibit strikes, lock-outs, and lay-offs in units engaged in essential defence services.
