New Delhi: Ever since the Monsoon session of the Parliament commenced on July 19, there has been a constant ruckus from the Opposition over the passing of bills in both the houses through voice vote without discussion. Taking a dig at the Centre, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien launched a scathing attack and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government of "making papri chaat" by rushing bills in the monsoon session of Parliament.
On Monday, O'Brien had hit out at the Modi government for rushing through bills in Parliament. In a tweet, he posted the list of bills passed in the second week of the monsoon session. "In the first 10 days, Modi-Shah rushed through and passed 12 bills at an average time of UNDER SEVEN MINUTES per Bill. Passing legislation or making papri chaat?" he had tweeted.
Read:| Don't make Parliament fish market, says Naqvi on Derek's papri chaat remark
In a new twist to the story, the TMC Rajya Sabha member again fired another tweet giving a "Parliament update of August 5" where he threw a "challenge" to PM Modi as he waits for "another plate of PAPRI CHAAT!" In a tweet on Thursday, he said, "No bills passed in the first week of monsoon session... Then Modi-Shah bulldozed 22 bills in 8 days at an average time of UNDER 10 MINUTES per Bill... Modiji, challenge these new numbers as I enjoy another plate of PAPRI CHAAT!"
Along with the tweet, he also shared two images showing the list of bills passed in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, between July 26 and July 30, and between August 2 and August 4. According to O'Brien's research, nearly 22 bills were passed in an average time of 10 minutes. Among them, the Inland Vessels Bill was the slowest which was passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 2 after 28 minutes.
Meanwhile, his data shows that the Coconut Development Board Bill was the quickest of all which passed by the Rajya Sabha on July 30 after 60 seconds of discussion and by the Lok Sabha on August 4 after five minutes. Notably, taking a strong objection to a tweet by Trinamool Congress MP, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused O'Brien of conspiring to malign Parliament's dignity and quipped that he can have fish curry if he's allergic to 'papri chaat'.
"If he is allergic to 'chaat papri, he can have fish curry. But do not turn Parliament into a fish market. Unfortunately, how work is being done with conspiracy to malign Parliament's dignity, was never seen before," said Deputy Leader of the Rajya Sabha on O'Brien's tweet.
Read:| Under Seven Minutes Per Bill: Derek O'Brien takes jibe at Centre
On the other hand, PM Modi also slammed O'Brien at the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) parliamentary meeting on Tuesday for comparing the passing of legislation to the making of a "papri chaat". He told the BJP MPs that by using this language TMC has insulted the Parliament and people of the country who have elected MPs.
"A tweet by senior MP about the passage of bills is derogatory of the proceedings and against the esteem of the elected representatives of the country. The Prime Minister also mentioned that we will not let any stone unturned to fulfil the commitment to the people of the country," Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters. Earlier too, O'Brien slammed the Centre for rushing "triple talaq" bill in 2019 and asked, "Are we delivering pizzas or passing legislation?"
The business of both the Houses of the Parliament remained majorly disrupted due to the continuous ruckus created by the Opposition over the issues including farmers' protest, Pegasus spyware, COVID-19 and inflation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday again slammed the opposition for allowing the operations of the Parliament. He said no matter how much the Opposition parties try to disrupt Parliament proceedings during the ongoing Monsoon Session and stall the development, the "country cannot become hostage to such selfishness and politics".
Referring to the several adjournment motions and stalemates in the Parliament, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the exchequer has suffered a loss of Rs 130 crores during the disruptions. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has blamed the Centre for parliament's non-functioning by saying that it had failed to agree to its demands including a Supreme Court-monitored probe in the Pegasus spyware issue and a discussion on the same in the Parliament with PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
However, the government has refused the Opposition's allegation over snooping row by claiming that surveillance through Pegasus is impossible following the existing protocols in India's legal framework. Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the petitions seeking an investigation into the snooping case on August 10 and has asked the parties to serve a copy of their plea to the government.
(with agency inputs)
Read:| Pegasus snooping serious, if media reports correct: SC
