Rajya Sabha adjourned following protests by the opposition

Following protests by opposition parties, proceedings in the Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till Thursday at 11 am. The opposition parties have been protesting since the onset of the monsoon session, demanding discussions on the Pegasus snooping controversy, issues of farm laws and rising prices.

However, the Upper House of the Parliament passed the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021, earlier passed by the Lok Sabha on July 29, amid protests and sloganeering by the opposition. The Bill seeks to encourage smaller airports to expand air connectivity to relatively remote and far-flying areas.

The proceedings of the House were earlier adjourned till 2 pm following sloganeering by Trinamool Congress and other opposition party MLAs. They flocked to the well demanding a debate on the Pegasus scandal. After short debates amid the din, the House then passed two bills - the Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The deputy chairman then adjourned proceedings for fifteen minutes till 2.56 pm. The opposition continued to protest when the Upper House reassembled after a 15-minute adjournment.

Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh called members for a debate on the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill. Following a short debate and reply from Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Bill was passed with a voice vote. The Deputy Chairman adjourned the House immediately afterwards. He also warned members against recording the proceedings as it is against the rules of the Rajya Sabha.