Lok Sabha adjourned; chaos disrupts Sushma’s statement on Indians in Iraq

The Speaker said that the notices for no-confidence were received from TDP and YSR Congress Party but could not proceed amid the din

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan (File Photo)

The Lok Sabha was adjourned soon after noon on Tuesday, with Speaker Sumitra Mahajan expressing concern over the fact that the sloganeering did not stop even when Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj was making a statement on the confirmed deaths of 38 Indians who had long been untraced in Iraq.

The Speaker also said that the notices for no-confidence were received from Thota Narasimham (TDP) and YV Subba Reddy (YSR Congress Party) but that she could not proceed unless the House was in order.

She finally adjourned the House for the day soon after noon.

The House was first adjourned till noon soon after it met at 11 a.m. because of protests by Opposition parties.

At noon, the TRS and AIADMK protested in the Well of the House on their demands for increased quantum of reservation and the constitution of a Cauvery Management Board, respectively.

Members from the Congress, CPI (M), SP, NCP, etc., stood at their seats. TDP MPs also stood at their seats.

Ms. Swaraj made a statement that she now had confirmed evidence of the deaths of 38 Indians long missing in Iraq, as DNA samples had matched. She said she was making this statement in the Lok Sabha after speaking at the Rajya Sabha.

She said she would find it difficult to keep speaking amid a din and requested that the protesting members hear her out.

However, with AIADMK and TRS in the Well of the House and CPM, NCP, SP, etc., standing at their seats, the House was not in order. Ms Swaraj said she could not speak much amid the din.

The Speaker said this was perhaps the first time in the history of Parliament that not even such a statement could be made. She wondered if politics had washed out all humanity and sensitivity.

AIMIM member Asaduddin Owaisi and Mohammad Salim of the CPI (M) gestured towards the AIADMK and TRS in the Well of the House.

The Speaker also said that she had received no-confidence motions from Mr. Subba Reddy and Mr. Narasimham but said she could not proceed if the House was not in order.

Then she adjourned the House for the day amid the din.