New Delhi: The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were finally adjourned for the day after three adjournments amid continued disruptions by the Opposition over the Pegasus spying controversy.
As soon as the House reconvened after the third adjournment, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought a discussion on Pegasus snooping issue as per notice given by him.
Mr Bhuvneshwar Kalita who was in the Chair, said the IT Minister has already made a statement.
At this, Deputy Leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi recollected the treatment meted out to the IT Minister when he was making the statement.
The Opposition Members started raising slogans and stood on their seats. The Chair appealed to the members to calm down and let the House function smoothly.
Seeing his requests falling on deaf ears, he adjourned House till Monday.
Earlier, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 1430 hrs after All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) Member Dr Santanu Sen, suspended for tearing the IT Minister’s statement on Pegasus row, refused to leave the House.
Prior to it, the the House had to be adjourned first at 1200 hrs, then till 1230hrs.
After the second adjournment, Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, as soon as he started the proceedings, said Dr Santanu Sen has been suspended for the remaining part of the session by this House by passing a resolution in the morning.
On seeing a determined Dr Sen unwilling to budge, the Deputy Chairman reiterated his request which went in vain.
When Dr Sen ignored his request yet again, Mr Singh adjourned the proceedings till 1430 hrs.
Earlier in the morning, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan moved a motion to suspend Dr Sen, which was passed by the House.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, vehemently opposed his ouster leading to a chaos and adjournment of the House till 1200 hrs.
Even after it reconvened, the uproar continued forcing the Chair to adjourn it till 1230 hrs.
Mr Muraleedharan said that Dr Sen had snatched the Pegasus statement paper from the hands of Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the House on Thursday and tore it.
The Monsoon session of Parliament began on Monday but due to the standoff between the ruling party and the opposition, no legislative business could be carried out except a discussion on Corona situation.