Rajya Sabha lost over 30 hours due to disruptions: Deputy Chairman Harivansh

The Rajya Sabha lost more than 30 hours due to uproar created by Opposition parties during the Monsoon Session, Deputy Chairman Harivansh said on Thursday before adjourning the proceedings till 12 noon amidst protest over special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and other issues.

The Monsoon Session commenced on July 21 and is scheduled to conclude on August 21.

“So far, 30 hours and 6 minutes of the House proceedings have been wasted,” Harivansh said. 

The House was adjourned twice during the pre-lunch session over the SIR issue.

During the pre-lunch session, the Deputy Chairman called for taking up of the listed Zero Hour mentions but adjourned the proceedings till noon as the Opposition MPs refused to relent.

Soon after the House met at 12 noon, Opposition MPs were on their feet raising slogans in support of their demand for a discussion on SIR of Bihar's electoral rolls.

The MPs demanded that the special revision of electoral rolls should be discussed in the House.

The Opposition has been demanding a roll back of the SIR in Bihar till the after the Assembly polls, which are due later this year.

DMK leader Tiruchi Shiva said the Opposition parties are very much interested in having Zero Hour and Question Hour. “We are very much interested in having Zero Hour and Question Hour. The responsibility of smooth functioning does not lie only with the Opposition but also with the Treasury. We are seeking time for a discussion on Bihar SIR, but we are not getting any time,” Tiruchi Shiva said.

The Chair announced that 28 notices under Rule 267 were received for discussion on multiple issues, including Bihar SIR, rising crimes against women in Odisha, alleged atrocities on Bengalis in other state and discussion on the impact of 25% tariffs and additional penalty slapped by US President Donald Trump.

The Chair rejected all the notices, following which the Opposition parties resorted to sloganeering in the House. The Chair adjourned the House proceedings till noon after the Opposition MPs refused to relent.

Later, the House proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm as the Opposition MPs kept raising slogans in support of their demand for a discussion on Bihar SIR.