Opposition alleges women MPs manhandled by marshals
Wednesday, 11 August 2021 (23:14 IST)
New Delhi: Opposition MPs from Rajya Sabha on Wednesday alleged manhandling by marshals in the House. Government meanwhile denied the charge, and accused the Opposition of getting in a scuffle with the marshals.
Congress MPs from Chhattisgarh, Chhaya Verma and Phulo Devi Netam said male marshals pushed them in the Rajya Sabha, as Opposition MPs were protesting.
"There was push and shove, and we fell down. Another MP from Chhattisgarh, Phulo Devi, also fell down," Verma told UNI.
She said after OBC Bill was passed, the entire Opposition wanted rest of the Bills to be taken up on Thursday. Government, however, wanted to pass the Bills on Wednesday so that the House could be adjourned sine die, she added.
"They brought so many Bills at the last moment, MPs also need time to study a Bill, so we wanted the Bills to be taken up tomorrow," Verma said.
She alleged that a large number of marshals were called in the House, and Opposition members were manhandled.
"The number of marshals was at least three times that of MPs. There was lot of push and shove," she said.
Verma also accused Ramdas Athawale, a minister in the Center, of using unparliamentary language.
"The passed three Bills in five minutes. Yes you have majority, but what kind of bullying is this," she said.
Trinamool Congress Derek O'Brien also tweeted about the large number of marshals present in Rajya Sabha.
"There are more security guards than MPs in the House as the government tries to bulldoze Insurance Bill," O'Brien said.
#Censorship
Modi-Shah Gujarat model now well and truly in Delhi 6.15 PM August 11.
What @rajyasabhatv is not showing you. Now, there are more security guards than MPs in the House as the Govt tries to BULLDOZE Insurance Bill. pic.twitter.com/b2HH0vhiCq
— Derek O'Brien | ????? ?'???????? (@derekobrienmp) August 11, 2021
In another tweet, he accused government of using "gender shields" by placing male marshals in front of women MPs and female marshals were posted in front of male MPs. He also posted pictures from the House showing the scene.
CENSORSHIP RSTV
Bad to worse. Modi-Shah’s brutal government now using “GENDER SHIELDS” to foil MP protests inside Rajya Sabha. Male marshals for women MPs. Female marshals posted in front of male MPs. (Few Oppn MPs shooting videos for proof)
— Derek O'Brien | ????? ?'???????? (@derekobrienmp) August 11, 2021
Government, however, accused the Opposition of indulging in a scuffle with the security personnel.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said male MPs pushed female marshals, and government will constitute a committee to look into this.
"They are telling lies, on the contrary female marshals were pushed by male MPs," Joshi said.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament was a washout, even as government managed to pass several Bills in din, amid continuing protests by Opposition over Pegasus snooping controversy and other issues.
Rajya Sabha witnessed uproar and scuffles on the last day of the session, on a day when Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu broke down in the House while talking about unruly behaviour of MPs in the House.
Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday. (UNI)
