Amid noisy protests by the AIADMK, the YSR Congress and the Congress, the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill for the welfare of persons with autism and cerebral palsy.
The Upper House was adjourned for the day, soon after it passed the Bill amid din following protests by AIADMK members demanding protection for the Cauvery delta farmers and and YSR Congress MPs for special status for Andhra Pradesh.
The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed by a voice vote after a brief discussion. The proposed amendments entail fixing the term of the chairperson of the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism and other Disabilities.
Moving the Bill, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot said a chairperson could not be appointed even after several attempts since 2012 as a suitable candidate meeting the stringent selection criteria could not be found. The amendments would ease the appointment procedure, he said.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice in the first half amid protests by members. After the House resumed, the protesting members gathered in the Well. Members from Andhra Pradesh came in support of the demand for special status to the State. The House was again adjourned till 2 p.m.
Rafale and Ram temple
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day following protests by the Opposition on issues ranging from the Rafale deal to the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and issues related to the Cauvery river water. The House was first adjourned till noon without question hour, and later for the entire day when protests did not cease.
Shiv Sena demand
The BJP had been put on notice by its ally, the Shiv Sena, during a meeting of the NDA floor leaders on Monday itself, that it would put forward the demand for an ordinance for a Ram temple in Ayodhya. On Wednesday, the first day Parliament sat, the party moved an adjournment motion on the issue which was not accepted but led to protests on the floor of the House.
Leader of the Legislature Party of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge attempted to raise the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into the Rafale deal. This was not permitted by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, and Congress members rose in protest.
The AIADMK members shouted slogans demanding justice for farmers from the Cauvery delta. They were joined by Telugu Desam Party members who sought a railway zone at Visakhapatnam. Attempts by the Speaker to pacify members were in vain and the House stood adjourned for the day.
