The controversy over the farms bills vote in the Rajya Sabha on September 20 refuses to die down.
On Sunday, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh put out his version of events. Singh was the presiding officer during the vote.
The contentious bills that will bring enormous changes in the farm sector had been passed by a voice vote. This means that MPs were invited to put forward their opinion in the forms of ayes (yes) or noes. Based on a rough measure that there was greater support for the bills, the speaker decided that the motion was passed.
However, as per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, if the result of a voice vote is called into question by a member, the Rajya Sabha should go for a division. A division involves actual voting by MPs with a record maintained of how each member voted.
Singh had claimed that he denied the…