New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) The Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the ninth time till 4.30 pm on Tuesday amid continuous protests by Opposition members over the Pegasus snooping row and farm laws.
After the House reassembled at 4 pm, Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the Chair, took up matters of urgent public importance.
He asked the members to raise their issues in the House. A few members managed to speak amid the sloganeering by the opposition MPs.
Agrawal requested the protesting members to go back to their seats.
"Please go back to your seats," he said.
With the Opposition not willing to relent, Agrawal adjourned the House till 4.30 pm.
When the House met for the day in the morning, Speaker Om Birla led the members in paying tributes to Anerood Jugnauth, former president of Mauritius, and Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda, the first president of Zambia.
As the proceedings began at 11 am, the Opposition members trooped into the Well shouting slogans and carrying banners.
The members of Congress, CPI, CPI(M) and TMC were protesting over the Pegasus snooping row, while the BSP, SP and Shiromani Akali Dal were protesting against the Centre's three new farm laws.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said by disrupting the proceedings, the Opposition is not allowing the ministers to do their duty of replying to questions.
The speaker repeatedly urged the protesting members to go back to their seats.
"Do not compete with each other in sloganeering. Compete with each other to raise people's issues," he said.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar took a swipe at the protesting Opposition members and said if they are concerned about farmers, they should allow the proceedings of the House to continue.
He made the remarks while replying to a supplementary query related to an insurance scheme for farmers during the Question Hour as the Opposition members continued with their sloganeering on various issues, including the Pegasus spying controversy and the agriculture laws.
"There are around 15 questions related to farmers. If the Opposition members are really concerned about farmers, they should listen to what the government has to say," Tomar said.
"Disruptions are lowering the decorum of the House," he said.
As the protests continued, the House was adjourned for the first time till 11.45 am.
When the House met again, the protests continued, leading to another adjournment till 12 noon.
As the Lok Sabha reassembled at 12 noon, Agrawal, who was chairing the proceedings, asked the protesting members to discuss their issues and said the government is ready to answer their questions.
"Please go back to your seats. Please cooperate," he said.
As the protests continued, Agrawal adjourned the House till 12.30 pm.
Later, amid the unrelenting protests, Agrawal again adjourned the Lok Sabha proceedings till 2 pm.
Subsequently, Bhartruhari Mahtab, who was in the Chair, adjourned the house till 2:30 pm. He had to repeatedly adjourn the House.
