MP Ragesh writes to deputy chairman expressing serious concern on passing of farm bills despite severe opposition by MPs
One of the eight members of parliament suspended from the upper house ( Rajya Sabha ) for his unruly behaviour alongwith other MPs on Sunday K. K. Ragesh, has in a scathing attack on the deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh asked was his action amounted to appeasing the prime minister by ignoring the established procedures n precedents of the house and passing the farm bills despite the massive opposition and protests of the several MPs hailing from various political parties.
In a strong protest letter addressed to the deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh, K. K. Ragesh one of the eight suspended MPs who had passed a night on the parliament lawn after the protest on Sunday said that while he is thankful to him ( Deputy Chairman) for his kind gesture of meeting the protesting MPs n offering tea at the parliament house lawns but was shocked to learn that he had thereafter shot a letter to President of India accusing the protesting MPs including him of assaulting him n showing disrespect to the office of deputy chairman. It is surprising, how can a person like you who claim to be a socialist could show such a hypocritical posture , by totally neglecting the real incidents, towards embracing political equities, questioned MP Ragesh.
He further added : As you may be well aware of what has happened in the house on 20 th September,2020, was a blatant refusal of my right as a Member of Parliament from your side who holds such a constitutional position of Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha, a position held by the peers n sages of Indian democracy in the past. The position held by you, by the constitution n moral obligation to uphold the rights of each n every in the upper house of parliament.
Accusing the deputy chairman of having been influenced by the dictates of the treasury benches allowing passing of two farm bills despite massive protests of the opposition MPs Ragesh wrote : In the upper house what had happened on September 20th that led to the protests by MPs was nothing but a most undemocratic decision by you to reject the demand for ” division of votes” instead of “voice vote” on the statutory resolution to disapprove the farmers Produce Trade and Commerce ( Promotion and facilitation ) Bill 2020 and the Farmers ( Empowerment n Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance n Farms Services Bills.
The decision from you influenced by the dictates of the treasury benches was instigating the protest wrote Ragesh in his letter.
Charging deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh of appeasing the prime minister K. K. Ragesh wrote : Your decision of passing the bills despite strong opposition from MPs by maintaining utter disregard to the rules and procedures was to appease the prime minister as well as to go into his good book.
Charging the deputy chairman for his adamant and stubborn attitude resulting in altercation in Rajya Sabha on Sunday, MP Ragesh wrote : I would be really interested to note whether you feel pride while passing on such important legislations by neglecting the strong protests of the opposition parties and ignoring the procedures and precedents of the house ? It was your decision to outrightly reject the voice of the opposition parties and the adamancy which resulted in the altercation in the house, which with your stubborn attitude to growas a strong protest. Ragesh questioned : On what ground did you take the decision to abruptly cut short the reply of the minister n to pass the bills? He further asked : On what grounds did you refuse to admit my request for division of votes on the statutory resolution ?
It may be recalled that the deputy chairman has also written a strong letter to the president highlighting the unruly behaviour of opposition MPs devaluing n insulting the constitutional office of deputy chairman saying that he was so disturbed that could not sleep for the whole night.
