Lok Sabha passes Essential Defence Services Bill amid opposition protests
New Delhi: Lok Sabha passed the Essential Defence Services Bill-2021 on Tuesday amid protests by opposition members over various issues that led to the proceedings being adjourned for a third time till 4 PM.
As the House reconvened at 2 PM, Speaker Om Birla asked the protesting members to go back to their seats and said that he would give them a chance to speak.
However, the opposition continued their protests over the Pegasus snooping controversy and the contentious farm laws.
Amid the din, the Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021 was passed. The proceedings were then adjourned till 4 PM.
In the morning when the House assembled at 11 am, the opposition members came to the well and started sloganeering over the alleged snooping through the Pegasus software and demanding scrapping of the three farm laws enacted last year.
When questions relating to agriculture and farmers' welfare came for discussion during the Question Hour, Birla asked the protesting members to raise farmers-related queries in the House.
"I wanted you to question the minister with regard to farmers welfare, but you are engaging in sloganeering which is not acceptable... You don't want to discuss farm issues...," Birla said.
However, members from opposition parties continued their sloganeering.
Speaker Birla after allowing the Question Hour to continue for about 40 minutes amidst the protests, adjourned the House for 20 minutes till 12 noon.
When the House re-assembled at noon, the opposition protests continued.
Senior MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, who was in the chair, first allowed the papers related to various ministries to be laid in the House.
He also announced that the adjournment motion moved by a few members were rejected by the Speaker.
As the protests continued, Mahtab appealed to the opposition members to go to their seats so that the House can function normally.
As the opposition ignored his plea, Mahtab adjourned the House till 2 pm after 10 minutes of business.
The House proceedings have been marred since the beginning of the Monsoon session on July 19 as opposition members protest demanding discussion on the Pegasus snooping issue and farm laws.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
