New Delhi: Rajya Sabha chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu’s plans to constitute a special disciplinary committee to probe the August 11 ruckus in the Upper House seems to have hit a roadblock with virtually all opposition parties refusing to be a part of it, sources said Thursday.
Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the opposition in the Upper House, described the probe as an intimidation tactic and an attempt to brush aside all those that are uncomfortable to the government.
According to the Indian Express, major opposition parties liked the Congress, Trinamool Congress, CPI(M), CPI, RJD, Shiv Sena, NCP and Aam Aadmi Party have decided not to be part of the committe.
The probe will look into the chaotic protests inside the Rajya Sabha on August 11, during the monsoon session, when the government moved the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment, 2021.
The scenes inside the House were compared with ‘martial law’ by opposition parties, who claimed that “outsiders” who were not part of “parliament security” were brought in to “manhandle” MPs. Senior Union ministers, however, met Naidu and demanded action against some opposition MPs for what they called unprecedented, extreme and violent acts in the House on August 11.
Kharge said he received a call from Naidu on September 4, proposing to constitute an inquiry committee to investigate into the incident which took place during the monsoon session on August 11 in Rajya Sabha but won’t join as it was an attempt to “intimidate MPs into silence”.
In the letter, Kharge said that both the Congress as well as other opposition parties wanted constructive discussions in the House.
He alleged that the government not only brushed aside the opposition parties’ demands for discussions, but also rushed through the crucial Bills and policies which would potentially have grave and adverse effects on the country.
The Congress leader said the government “also bypassed standing committees, and refused to have any meaningful discussion on bills, policies and issues. Additionally, senior ministers were largely absent from parliament while opposition MPs were suspended. In doing so, the government undermined the sovereignty of parliament.”
“Given this, constituting an inquiry committee on the incident of August 11, 2021 seems to be designed to intimidate MPs into silence. It will not only suppress the voices of the peoples’ representatives but will deliberately brush aside all those that are uncomfortable to the government. I am, therefore, unequivocally against constituting the inquiry committee and the question of our party proposing the name of a member from our party for nomination to this committee does not arise,” he said.
He further said that the issue can be discussed in all party meetings.
Speaking to news agency PTI, Kharge said, “It is a closed matter and raising it now is not proper. We can take a call on the issue when the House is in session next.”
He said the formation of any disciplinary committee now was not appropriate and should be avoided.
Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh said, “We have nothing whatsoever to do with any so called disciplinary committee.”
The DMK too refused to be part of the committee.
“We will go with other opposition parties and will not be a part of any such committee,” DMK leader Tiruchi Siva told PTI.
During much of the monsoon session, opposition parties sought a discussion on the allegations that the Israeli spyware Pegasus had been used to target politicians, journalists, activists and others. The government refused to yield, leading to an impasse. Opposition parties refused to allow debates and discussions on other matters unless the Pegasus allegations and the farm laws are discussed first, disrupting many sessions.
On August 10, as the government pushed through a debate on “the agricultural problems and solutions”, the opposition demanded the repeal of the laws. On August 11, the government pushed for the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment, 2021 even when the entire opposition wanted the Bill to go to a select committee. It was passed even as opposition MPs clashed with parliament’s security officials, who had swarmed the Rajya Sabha chamber.
(With PTI inputs)
