Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day within an hour after proceedings began on Tuesday. The no-confidence motions six political parties filed against the government were not taken up for discussion in the Lok Sabha, once again.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Indian Union Muslim League on Monday joined the Telugu Desam Party, YSR Congress and the Congress to move a no-confidence motion against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government.
On Monday, a number of Opposition parties also asked their members to allow the Lok Sabha to function so the no-trust motions can be discussed. So far, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has refused to take up any of the notices saying the “House was not in order”.
The Lower House began its session at 11 am on Tuesday after a three-day break, but proceedings were adjourned till noon with minutes after Opposition parties shouted “we want justice” in the House.
When the Lok Sabha resumed at noon, members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam trooped into the Well shouting slogans and holding placards, demanding that the Cauvery Management Board be set up, The Indian Express reported. Telugu Desam Party members also displayed placards demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh. As the protests did not stop, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for the day.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar maintained that the Bharatiya Janata Party was ready for a discussion on the no-confidence motions.
In the Rajya Sabha, Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu reprimanded the protesting members before adjourning the House for 15 minutes. “This is totally undemocratic, totally unbecoming of Members of Parliament,” Naidu said, adding that MPs “must uphold the dignity of the House”.
When the Upper House resumed, the protests and slogan-shouting continued, and Naidu said he was adjourning proceedings till Wednesday as he was left with no option, Firstpost reported.
The Rajya Sabha was due to discuss and pass the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013, Finance Bill, 2018, Appropriation Bill, the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2017, according to The Indian Express.
Neither House of Parliament has been productive in the second half of the Budget Session mainly because of protests by several Opposition parties with different demands. The Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress have been demanding special category category status for Andhra Pradesh. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi wants more job quotas in Telangana, and the AIADMK wants the Centre to set up a board to manage the Cauvery water dispute.
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