(The Editor's Pick is a new newsletter from The Hindu that provides a snapshot of the most important stories from today's edition of our newspaper, along with a note from our top editors on why we chose to give prominence to these stories.)
Two of the three Bills relating to agriculture, which have triggered protests in various parts of the country, have been passed in the Rajya Sabha by voice vote. This happened amid the din created by the opposition seeking a division. The opposition says that the vote broke the rules for parliamentary proceedings. Twelve opposition parties have given notice for a no-confidence motion against the recently-re-elected Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. In an update to the developments, today eight of the opposition MPs have been suspended from Rajya Sabha. While ruckus in Parliament is not anything new in the Indian democratic setup, the nature of the Bills under discussion gives the current disruption significance. With support from non-NDA parties such as the YSRC, the government is reported to have the required numbers in Rajya Sabha to pass the Bills. Hence, a division vote may not have created much difference. However, if a call for division was not heeded, it gives credence to the opposition's accusation of government high-handedness. The situation triggered by these Bills may also have a fallout affecting the rest of the monsoon session, making this story important. |
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