Rajya Sabha passes Inland Vessels bill in RS amid din

The government rushed through passage of the Inland Vessels Bill, 2021, in the Rajya Sabha on Monday amid opposition protests over government refusal to hold a debate on ‘use of spyware Pegasus’.

When the House met for the day, RS Chairman Venkaiah Naidu led the members in appreciating the performance of shuttler PV Sindhu who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. However, the House was in disarray thereafter.

Trinamool leader Derek O’Brien raised the issue of Tripura Police detaining political strategist Prashant Kishor’s team and wondered what is happening in BJP-ruled states. Naidu tried to conduct the Zero Hour but Trinamool and Congress members walked into the Well of the House and shouted slogans over the ‘snooping’. The House was adjourned till noon.


At 12 pm, deputy chairman Harivansh held Question Hour amid slogan shouting. At one point, he asked protesting MPs not to record proceedings on their mobile phone as this is “unparliamentary”. The protesting MPs raised slogans against PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah. After 28 minutes, Harivansh adjourned the House.

At 2 pm, the House took up the Inland Vessels Bill, 2021, for discussion and passage. The bill, moved by shipping minister Sarbanand Sonowal, was discussed amid the protests. Shakti Sinh Gohil (Congress) laid his speech on the table of the House in support of the protest. Mahesh Poddar (BJP), Prasanna Acharya (BJD), Banda Prakash (TRS), M Thambidurai (AIADMK), AR Reddy (YSRCP) spoke in favour of the bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 29.