"I spent sleepless night," says Rajya Sabha Chairman as he breaks down while condemning Opposition's ruckus

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Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu broke down on August 11 while condemning the ruckus by the Opposition members in the Upper House.

Naidu slammed the protesting leaders for the "sacrilege" and violation of the "temple of democracy".

The Rajya Sabha witnessed chaotic scenes on August 10 during the discussion on farmers’ issues with at least two leaders from the Opposition climbing atop the reporters’ table, one waving a black cloth and another throwing a file at the chair after the House was adjourned.

"I am distressed by the way the sacredness was destroyed yesterday. When some members sat on the table, some members climbed on the table of the house, perhaps to be more visible with such acts of sacrilege," the Vice President of India said reading from a statement at the beginning of the proceedings on August 11.

READ: Explained: What is the Constitution (127th) Amendment Bill, 2021 passed in Lok Sabha and why did the Opposition support it?
"I have no words to convey my anguish and to condemn such acts as I spent a sleepless night...last night", he said as he choked and broke down. He paused and resumes soon to say that he struggled to find out any reason for forcing this House to hit such a low.

“The Opposition could have discussed their objections to the farm laws in the house, protested or voted against it,” he said.

While Rajya Sabha television did not show the scenes of ruckus, Opposition MPs recorded the events and posted them on their Twitter handles.

Presiding officers in Parliament are supposed to be neutral umpires, not partisan players. They cannot present a totally one-sided picture of goings on in the House and further aggravate the situation. Misplaced emotion leads to commotion.

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 11, 2021

As Naidu summed up his remarks on August 11, the Opposition members gathered and chanted slogans. The House was adjourned till 12 noon.

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on August 11, two days before the scheduled conclusion of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

"I am pained that the house didn't run smoothly. House functioned only for 21 hours and 14 minutes. 20 Bills were passed in Lok Sabha," said Lok Sabha Speaker OM Birla, addressing the media at the close of the session.

Also, read Parliament Monsoon Session: Opposition blames Centre for deadlock, seeks debate on Pegasus in both Houses

The Monsoon Session of the Parliament that began on July 19 has seen opposition members stall proceedings in both the Houses demanding discussions on the Pegasus Project Report, farmers' agitation, and price rise. The Session was scheduled to end on August 13.

Last week, six TMC MPs were suspended for the day for carrying placards into the Well. Earlier, one TMC MP was suspended for the whole session for snatching papers from IT and Telecom Ministers and tearing it up.