Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill amid continuous sloganeering and protests by Opposition members. These members were demanding the presence of the Home Minister in the Upper House and raised issues related to the recent alleged police atrocity and violence during student protests in Delhi.
The Bill, which seeks to amend the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, empowers courts to order payment of at least 50 per cent of the awarded amount to MSME suppliers if an application to set aside an order remains pending for more than six months.
When the House reassembled at 2 p.m., Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh asked MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi to move the motion for discussion on the Bill.
As the discussion began, Opposition members immediately demanded that Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge be allowed to speak first. The Deputy Chairman declined, stating that a ruling had already been given by the Chairman earlier.
Following persistent sloganeering, Kharge was permitted to speak. He began by saying, “Kya aasman gir jayega agar mujhe paanch minute sun lenge…” and then referred to the Ram Janmabhoomi issue.
Before he could complete his remarks, Leader of House J.P. Nadda intervened, asserting that the minister had already initiated the discussion and that it should continue.
Congress member Ajay Maken was then called. He expressed surprise that the Leader of Opposition was not being allowed to speak, noting that such a situation had not arisen during his long tenure in both Houses of Parliament.
