"Assault On Democracy": Vice President Slams Tearing Of Minister's Statement Copy

The Rajya Sabha Chairman said disruptions do not go well with the moment of 75 years of Independence and asked MPs not to be party to the lowering the country's standing on the democratic world stage.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday described the snatching and tearing of the copy of the IT Minister's statement in the House as an assault on the country's parliamentary democracy. Expressing anguish over the frequent disruptions in the House after the laying of papers, Mr Naidu made a passionate appeal to members to allow the smooth functioning of the House so that more meaningful discussions like the one on COVID-19 issue could be held. He also posed several questions to the members to ponder over the developments that have taken place in the House. Referring to the statement of IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on the Pegasus spyware issue, Mr Naidu said he had made it clear in the business advisory committee meeting that members may seek clarifications which would have enabled them address their concerns in the matter.