Proceedings of both houses of Parliament disrupted several times

High drama continued in both the houses of Parliament on Thursday as opposition MPs staged protests over a range of issues, including the Pegasus snooping controversy and today's I-T raids on media houses.  In the Rajya Sabha, Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwinwi Vaishnaw was forced to cut short his statement on the row by the uproar among opposition members. As soon as Mr Vaishnaw rose to speak on Pegasus, Trinamool MP Shantanu Sen snatched his papers, tore, and flung them at Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh. This forced the minister to lay the paper on the table instead. Heated words were exchanged between Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and the Trinamool MP. Marshals had to intervene to bring the situation under control. The Rajya Sabha was later adjourned till tomorrow, the third time through the day. It was first adjourned till 12 noon and then till 2 pm after MPs trooped into the well of the House raising slogans and holding placards. "Members seem to be not interested in discussing people's issues," Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said, adjourning the proceedings earlier in the day.

Lok Sabha was adjourned thrice, the last time till 4 pm. Question Hour barely lasted 12 minutes before Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 12 noon. Bhartruhari Mahtab, who took the Chair later, adjourned it for a second time after protesting members ignored his plea to return to their seats and discuss matters. While leaders of the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal targeted the government on the contentious farm laws, those of the Trinamool Congress gathered near the Speaker's podium raising the Pegasus snooping issue. They sought answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.