Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till Wednesday after commotion over the Rafale deal and the verdict in the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.
More than 30 Lok Sabha members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Telugu Desam Party and the Congress trooped into the Well of the House during the Question Hour, flashing placards and chanting slogans on various topics.
The Congress demanded an inquiry by a Joint Parliamentary Committee into the Rafale fighter jet deal with France. Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party asked for an apology from Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his allegations against the deal.
Members of the Telugu Desam Party continued to protest to seek special category status for Andhra Pradesh, while AIADMK members protested against the proposed construction of a dam on the Cauvery river by Karnataka. The Supreme Court has rejected Tamil Nadu’s request for a stay on the Centre’s decision to allow Karnataka to prepare a detailed project report on the dam.
Earlier, members of the Trinamool Congress had given a notice in the Rajya Sabha for a discussion on unemployment.
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Anurag Thakur had on Monday moved a breach of privilege motion against Rahul Gandhi for “misleading the House” about the Rafale deal. Thakur had demanded that Gandhi apologise for alleged falsehoods in his speech in the Lok Sabha on July 20 during the no-confidence motion against the government.
On Monday, the Lok Sabha had been adjourned twice during the day. After it resumed proceedings at 3 pm, the House passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016. The Congress had moved a privilege motion in the Lok Sabha against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the controversy surrounding the Rafale deal.
Rajya Sabha
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Tuesday following arguments over the Rafale deal and the Cauvery matter.
Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu told the House in the morning that several notices on matters such as the destruction caused by some cyclones, agricultural crisis and price rise had been admitted for discussion, and requested members to let the House run its business, PTI reported.
However, members of the DMK and AIADMK soon stormed the Well shouting slogans against the construction of the Mekedatu dam, while the Telugu Desam Party displayed placards seeking special status for Andhra Pradesh.
Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the privilege motion against the government on the Rafale jet deal must be taken up. Naidu had said that he was going through it. Azad claimed the government had misled Parliament and the Supreme Court about the defence deal, which led to protests from the BJP.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said the government was willing to discuss all matters, including that of Rafale deal. But he also sought an apology from the Congress, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s refusal to order an inquiry into the Rafale deal and Sajjan Kumar’s conviction by the Delhi High Court.
As the sloganeering continued, Naidu initially adjourned the House till 2 pm. But when the sloganeering resumed after the House reconvened, Naidu adjourned it for the day.
Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!