Rajya Sabha disrupted, adjourned

New Delhi, July 20 (UNI) The Rajya Sabha was on Wednesday adjourned for a second time in the day post lunch amid sloganeering and uproar by opposition members over price rise and increase in GST rates.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh tried to take up The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill 2022 as the House assembled at 2 pm.
The opposition members, however, continued to raise slogans against the government.
Deputy Speaker Harivansh reprimanded some Congress MPs when they were seemingly taking pictures and videos with their handsets.
“You cannot do recording inside the House, please delete the videos, this is against the rules of the House,” he said.
The House was adjourned thereafter as the members continued to raise slogans.
In the pre-lunch session, former Olympic track and field athlete P T Usha took oath as a member. Soon after, opposition members began demanding a discussion on price rise.
“I have given notice under Rule 267 to discuss price rise. The common man has to bear the burden of the rising prices of essential commodities. We want a discussion,” Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge said.
Kharge said the hike in GST of rice, wheat, curd, barley, paneer, hospital rooms and other essential items was an issue of public concern and needed to be debated.
Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said he was ready to allow a discussion under relevant rules.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the government of being obstinate over not allowing a debate on price rise and GST.
“This morning in the Rajya Sabha the opposition led by the Congress demanded an urgent debate on price rise and senseless GST rates on food items. This was denied. The House was adjourned till 2 pm. Modi Sarkar’s obstinacy continues. Business in Parliament is suffering,” he tweeted.
Earlier, Opposition MPs staged a protest against the GST rate hike, carrying packets of milk, curd and other commodities on which GST has been hiked.
The Monsoon Session, which began on July 18, is scheduled to conclude on August 12.
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