Venkaiah Naidu slams Parliament chaos

Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday broke down in the house while reading out a statement condemning what he called "sacrilege" and violation of the "temple of democracy" by the opposition, saying, "The sanctity of the House has been breached when some members jumped at the table." Venkaiah Naidu said, "I was very sad and I’m deeply anguished....There is no act to convey my anguish as I have spent a sleepless night...I struggled to find our provocation."

Opposition MPs on Tuesday climbed the officials' table at the centre of the Rajya Sabha, waved black cloths and threw files during a discussion on the farmer protests over three central laws. Even on Wednesday, when Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu was making a remark on the conduct of some members in the House the day before, some Opposition leaders continued to raise slogans over various issues.

Naidu said the opposition could have discussed their objections to the farm laws in the house, protested or voted against it. "But it is for the government to act. You cannot force the government to do this or not to do this... Tuesday was a golden opportunity for the concerned members to have gone on record...but it seems their sole intention was to not allow the house to function." Venkaiah Naidu said a certain degree of sacredness is attached to this place and that in temples, devotees are allowed only up to this sanctum sanctorum and not beyond. "Entering this sanctum sanctorum of the House in itself is an act of sacrilege and it has become a routine over the years," Venkaiah Naidu said while referring to Tuesday's ruckus.

He further appealed to all the MPs to have "decency to listen to the Chair". Venkaiah Naidu concluded his speech by saying, "The choice before each one of you is very clear. It is either to be the best parliamentarian or the worst disruptor." The monsoon session of parliament, which began on July 19, has been a cycle of disruptions, adjournments and protests in both houses over a range of subjects, mainly the Pegasus snooping scandal involving allegations that opposition politicians, journalists, activists and others were targeted by Israeli Pegasus spyware sold only to governments.