Today was Day 20 of second half of Parliament's budget session 2018. And for the 20th consecutive day, the Lok Sabha witnessed disruptions in the first hour. After continued protests by the AIADMK members over the Cauvery waters issue, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for the day. The Rajya Sabha too witnessed disruption forcing its adjournment till 2 p.m. The House could function only for about 15 minutes after it reconvened at 2 p.m. Uproar by Opposition members and members from Andhra Pradesh forced the House to be adjourned thrice in the post-lunch sitting.
Meanwhile, 12 members, including actor-turned-parliamentarian Jaya Bachchan and the BJP’s Bhupendra Yadav, took the oath on Wednesday. While 41 out of the 58 members elected/re-elected to the Upper House in elections last month took the oath on Tuesday, 12 did so on Wednesday.
Here are the updates:
The Rajya Sabha finally reassembles, only to witness resumption of sloganeering.
“It is most unfortunate that Rajya Sabha could not transact any business in this session,” says Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien.
The House is adjourned for the day.
The House reconvenes and is again adjourned till 4.10 p.m, 4.21 p.m, 4.55 p.m. and again till 5.10 p.m.
Mr. Kurien importunes the House to discuss the anti-corruption Bill, stating that no government business had been transacted this session. He asks members to begin the discussion.
But the din begins again as Opposition members hold placards in the House. Members troop in to the well shouting slogans.
MoS Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh says that the House across party lines is not serious about business, as he rises to ask that The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 be taken up for consideration and passing.
The House is adjourned for 15 minutes.
The House reconvenes. DMK member Tiruchi Siva chairs the House. Even as the Chair's arrival is being announced, protesters walk into the well. Mr. Siva sits in the chair, announces the adjournment till 3.30 p.m. and leaves.
The House reconvenes. The din continues, leading to another adjournment, this time till 3.15 p.m. as the Chair seems to be determined to transact some business.
The House reconvenes with the Deputy Chairman in Chair. Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabhi Azad speaks demanding discussions on important issues such as Cauvery management board, bank scam, A.P. special status and the SC/ST Act.
Vocal opposition from the Treasury benches as Mr. Azad squarely blames the ruling side for not allowing the House to function. Amid the din, Minister Vijay Goel is seen reading out a note.
Members from A.P. and the Opposition members are in the well of the House, protesting and shouting slogans. Huge commotion prevails.
Slogans like “ Dalit virodhi yeh sarkar” continue despite the Chair’s appeal.
The Chair continues to run the House. And a bill is moved. Huge commotion and nothing could be heard.
The Chair adjourns the House for 30 minutes till 2.43 p.m.
As the House is reconvened, Minister of State for External Affairs, who travelled to Iraq to bring back the the mortal remains of 38 Indians killed in Mosul, is called to make a statement.
Even before the House re-assembled, AIADMK members, carrying placards, troope into the well of the House shouting slogans such as ‘we want justice’ and ‘we demand Cauvery board.’
After the listed papers were laid, Congress, NCP, Left, TDP and RJD members are standing from their seats seeking the Speaker’s ruling on notices they had given on the no- confidence motion, moved by some of them.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan appeals to AIADMK members to return to their seats, saying she cannot take up notices on the no-confidence motion unless the House is in order.
AIADMK Members protest in front of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan during the second phase of the budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Wednesday.
“I am duty bound to place the no-confidence motion. Please go to your seats. I have to do a head count. I have not been able to take up notices on the no-confidence motion,” she says.
As the members continue with sloganeering, the Speaker says she is not in a position to take up notices for no-confidence motion, and announces adjournment of the House for the day.
The Rajya Sabha is adjourned till 2 pm without transacting any legislative business after the Congress-led opposition creates an uproar over various issues, including the alleged softening of provisions of the SC/ST Atrocities Act.
Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu calls the protests, which have not allowed any business to be transacted since the House met on March 5, as a “murder of democracy.”
TDP Members display placards during a protest in front of Rajya Sabha chairperson M. Venkaiah Naidu as he speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the second phase of the budget session, at the Parliament House in New Delhi on Wednesday.
No sooner had 12 new members taken oath of office, Opposition members troop into the well of the House displaying placards in support of their demand and shouting slogans.
While MPs belonging to the Congress and the BSP are protesting against the alleged softening of certain provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Tamil Nadu parties - DMK and AIADMK, demand the immediate constitution of a Cauvery management board.
Members of the TDP and KVP Ramachandra Rao of the Congress hold placards demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh.
“Narendra Modi — Dalit Virodhi” [Narendra Modi is anti- Dalit], shouted Congress and BSP members. They also shout “dalit virodhi yeh sarkar, nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi” (This anti-Dalit government will not be tolerated).
TDP MPs raise ‘save Andhra’ slogans.
Mr. Naidu expresses displeasure over repeated disruptions since Parliament met early last month for the second half of the Budget session.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu in the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi.
He requests members to return to their seats and at least pass the anti-corruption Bill.
“You want these kind of ugly scenes to be seen everyday by people,” he says referring to shouting of slogans and display of placards trying to block his view.
“What is the difference between people shouting slogans outside and here,” he asked. “You have not transacted any business including important legislations. People want legislations.”
He says handful of people were obstructing proceedings over their agenda.
Any issue, be it banking scam, Cauvery waters, Andhra special package, Dalit act or Kashmir issue can be discussed. It is unfortunate that debate on these issues is not happening despite the Chair permitting it and the government willing to discuss it, he says.
“You are testing the patience of people. This is not good for democracy. This is murdering democracy,” he says. “Entire country is agitated, depressed.”
“Have some discussion and allow some bills to be passed,” he says. He notes that just two days were left for the session to end and it is imperative that some legislative business is transacted on Wednesday and Thursday.
As shouting of slogans continues, he adjourns the proceedings till 2 pm.
The Lok Sabha once again witnesses disruptions, following which the Speaker adjourns the House till noon.
Immediately after the House meets for the day, members of the AIADMK troop into the well of the House and raise slogans seeking the immediate constitution of a Cauvery management board.
The Speaker urges the protesting members to return to their seats.
But as the members continue to raise slogans, Ms. Mahajan adjourns the proceedings till 12 noon.
Following is the Parliament schedule:
Lok Sabha
Bills to be introduced
*The Trafficking of Persons (Preventive Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill
*The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018
* The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2018
*The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018
*The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018
Bill for consideration and passing
*The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018
*The Chit funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018
*The National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Other business
*Discussion on alleged systemic irregularities in banking sector and its impact on Indian economy
Rajya Sabha
Bills for consideration and passing
*The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013
*The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017
*The State Banks (Repeal and Amendment Bill)
