The Rajya Sabha session had to be adjourned on Thursday after Trinamool Congress MP Santanu Sen snatched a statement paper from Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and tore it to bits as he rose to address the Pegasus snoopgate controversy.
A high voltage drama unfolded in today’s Rajya Sabha session when IT Minister Vaishnaw started to make a statement on the phone tapping allegations. While TMC MP Sen rushed to snatch the paper from Vaishnaw’s hand, some other opposition MPs rushed to the Well of the House and raised slogans against the government.
Sen not just snatched but also tore the paper into bits and threw it towards the Deputy Chairman.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh urged the protesting MPs to go back to their respective seats to allow Vaishnaw to complete his statement. However, the snatching and tearing of the paper disallowed the Minister to complete his statement and he instead laid a copy of it on the table of the House.
BJP MP Swapan Dasgupta in an interview to ANI said, “It seems that some people of Opposition, notably some of the TMC MPs, got up & took the paper from the hands of the Minister (IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while he was speaking on ‘Pegasus’) & tore it up. This is completely unseemly behaviour.”
It seems that some people of Opposition, notably some of the TMC MPs, got up & took the paper from the hands of the Minister (IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while he was speaking on ‘Pegasus’) & tore it up. This is completely unseemly behaviour: Swapan Dasgupta, BJP Rajya Sabha MP pic.twitter.com/th4T0hmL5X
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2021
“He was making a statement, you had a right to question him after that but instead of going in for a debate, is this the type of hooliganism we see inside the House? This is completely against all norms, I think it should be condemned out right,” he added.
He was making a statement, you had a right to question him after that but instead of going in for a debate, is this the type of hooliganism we see inside the House? This is completely against all norms, I think it should be condemned out right: Swapan Dasgupta, BJP Rajya Sabha MP
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2021
The House has been adjourned till 11 am tomorrow.
Verbal war after the house was adjourned
As per an ANI report, an argument ensued between Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and TMC MP Sen after the latter’s misbehaviour.
Heated words exchanged between Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri & TMC MP Shantanu Sen after the latter snatched a paper from IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while he was speaking on ‘Pegasus Project’ report in Rajya Sabha
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2021
A heated exchange ensued between the two and was brought under control after the intervention of marshals.
In Rajya Sabha: After adjournment of the House, a verbal feud ensued between BJP MPs & TMC MPs after MP Shantanu Sen snatched papers from the minister & tore it; marshals intervened to bring the situation under control
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2021
Meanwhile, the Monsoon Session of the parliament that began this Monday failed to do any business due to the continuous nuisance by the Opposition members.
