Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till 2 pm after opposition ruckus

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday after opposition members tried to raise the issues of income tax raids on the newspaper group Dainik Bhaskar and alleged snooping using Pegasus spyware.

No sooner had the House assembled for the day, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh tried to raise the issue of raids against the media group in multiple cities.

Other opposition members, including those from the TMC, rushed into the well of House over reports about the Modi government allegedly targeting political rivals, journalists and critics for surveillance using Israeli company NSO Group's Pegasus spyware.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu first ordered that Singh's remarks would not go on record and then asked members not to show placards.

"I have not permitted you. You have to seek permission from me. Nothing shall go on record," Naidu told Singh. "Members seem to be not interested in discussing people's issues."

He appealed to members in the well of the House to go back to their respective seats.

"Please go back to your respective seats...follow the parliamentary practice, send a notice to me. Going by merit, I will allow you. What is this," he remarked.

"This is not the way," he said and called for listed official papers to be laid on the table.

But the members continued to protest, forcing Naidu to adjourn the proceedings. Just one listed paper could barely be laid before the proceedings were adjourned.

"The House is adjourned as some members are disturbing the House," he said.

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned on Thursday following sloganeering by opposition members protesting over a range of issues, including the Pegasus snooping controversy.

As soon as the House convened for the day, the Question Hour was taken up.

But some opposition members started raising slogans.

Speaker Om Birla repeatedly urged the protesting members to go back to their respective seats and said he was ready to give adequate time to discuss the issues raised by them.

He said people have elected them to Parliament to raise their issues and that sloganeering was not right.

However, the members did not relent and continued their protest. Barely 15 minutes after the House convened for the day, it was adjourned till 2 pm.