The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day around 12.15 pm on Monday, when it resumed after a month-long break. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan was forced to adjourn the Lower House of Parliament as Opposition leaders disrupted proceedings over the Rs 12,703-crore scam involving the Punjab National Bank and jeweller Nirav Modi, and a special package for Andhra Pradesh.
Ten minutes after Parliament resumed, Telugu Desam Party leaders demanding a special package for Andhra Pradesh stormed the Well shouting slogans, forcing Mahahan to adjourn the house till noon. The MPs continued to shout slogans when the Lok Sabha reconvened at noon.
The Rajya Sabha was first adjourned till 11.20 am after a new member, Hishey Lachungpa from Sikkim, was sworn in, and Chairman Venkaiah Naidu read out obituary references for former members Narsingh Narayan Pandey and Faguni Ram. When the Upper House reconvened, the Andhra Pradesh MPs trooped into the Well with placards. Naidu then adjourned the Rajya Sabha till 2 pm.
When the House reconvened, the MPs resumed their protests for Special Category status, while MPs from Tamil Nadu demanded that the Centre sets up the Cauvery Management Board, and Congress members wanted to know where Nirav Modi was, The Hindu reported.
Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said Naidu was ready to discuss the bank fraud. While Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad supported this, other members continued to storm the Well, rendering him inaudible.
The House was soon adjourned for the day.
The first half of the Budget Session, which ended on February 9, was also marked by similar frequent adjournments after protests by leaders from Andhra Pradesh.
Congress Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma submitted an adjournment notice to discuss the alleged bank fraud. Two more notices have been issued on this matter.
Bihar politician Pappu Yadav issued an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the alleged leak of a Staff Selection Committee question paper. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe issued a notice to discuss the allegations of corruption against relatives of former ministers.
Outside Parliament, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal responded to the Opposition’s offensive over the Punjab National Bank case, saying the scam “started during the time of the Congress”.
During this session, the government is hoping to counter the Opposition with its Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, which once passed will give it the power to attach the assets of offenders declared fugitives.
Among the other bills the government has listed are the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill and the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, in the Lok Sabha. In the Rajya Sabha, the government has listed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill and the State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill.
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