Opposition moves no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh

Opposition parties on Sunday moved a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh after he overruled opposition pleas for postponing Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar`s reply to the debate on the two farm bills till Monday since the sitting time scheduled of the House was over.

The motion, signed by around 100 members has been submitted in the notice office of the Parliament as the secretary-general was not present.

This came after The Farmers` Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill passed by Rajya Sabha today amid protest from Opposition parties.

The two bills have already been passed the Lok Sabha.

"This day will go down in history as `black day`. The way these bills have been passed goes against democratic processes and amounts to killing democracy. Twelve Opposition parties have moved a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Deputy chairman," Congress MP Ahmed Patel told reporters here.

"Our demands for the division were not met and the conduct of the Deputy Chairman was not according to democratic norms," he added.

"He (Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh) should safeguard the democratic traditions but instead, his attitude today harmed the democratic traditions and processes. So we have decided to move a no-confidence motion against him," Patel said.

Congress leader Partap Singh Banda termed the Agri Bills as "death warrants" for farmers.

Opposition MPs protested against agriculture Bills and were demanding that bills be sent to the select committee.

After the passing of Agri Bills, opposition members alleging bias sat in the House and later protested at the Parliament premises.

The opposition alleged that after the house`s time was over the Chair did not take consent of the house and demands of taking the Bills on Monday was denied as the chair went for a voice vote and demand for the division of votes was not allowed.

Earlier, the Rajya Sabha saw a massive ruckus on Sunday as the government sought to clear the farm Bills amid an unrelenting opposition determined to block them as TMC MP Derek O`Brien tore up the documents.

(With agency inputs)