It was yet another day of little business in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. "This is probably the last session where we can have meaningful discussion before the general elections... so please... let's do our responsibility," pleaded Speaker Sumitra Mahajan before the agitating members. But her efforts went in vain and she adjourned the lower House for the day.
In Rajya Sabha too, sloganeering washed out the day's proceedings. A short duration discussion was initiated on the devastation caused by cyclones Gaja, Titli in the States of Odisha, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but couldn't be continued as the House was not in order.
Here are the updates:
Rajya Sabha reassembles and takes up calling attention motion.
Anand Sharma raises a Point of Order. He says some members sought apology from Rahul Gandhi, who is a member of the other House. "There is no point of order," says the Chair.
As Mr. Sharma speaks, BJP and Congress members trade charges against each other.
"You don't want to discuss serious issues," a visbly upset Mr. Naidu says and adjourns the House for the day.
Dr. Maithreyan (AIADMK) who rose to speak on impact of Gaja cyclone in Tamil Nadu, will get a chance to continue his speech when the motion is again discussed during the session.
The Congress is running away from a discussion on the Rafale issue in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The government is ready to have discussions on any issue in Parliament, MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel told reporters.
“I want to tell the Congress that the government is ready for a discussion on the issue of Rafale... But the Congress is not ready for a discussion and its members are instead raising unimportant issues in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha,” Mr. Goel said.
After the adjournment, Congress president Rahul Gandhi spoke to the media in the Parliament premises. Reiterating his party's demand for a JPC probe into the Rafale deal, Mr. Gandhi claimed the government had waived corporate loans worth several crores and Anil Ambani was a beneficiary. "The money could have benefitted several lakh farmers," he says.
Amid sloganeering, MoS for Corporate Affairs P. P. Chaudhary introduces The National Institute of Design (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
Sumitra Mahajan.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan says parliament is for debate and discussion, but this is not the way. She requests members to stop sloganeering. "I have heard from people from abroad asking what is happening in Indian Parliament... We have a responsibility. We have to maintain the standard of Parliament," she says. She says she has received feedback that schoolchildren's behave much better than parliamentarians.
Leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, raises to speak. Ask you members to go back to the seat first, Ms. Mahajan tells Mr. Kharge. "I will allow you to speak," she adds.
"We are ready for discussion. We respect democracy. But the Prime Minister is silent. We are demanding a joint parliamentary committee to look into the Rafale deal. The deal was discussed in length during the no-confidence motion," he says.
The government is ready for discussion on any issue. The need for JPC doesn't arise as the Supreme Court in its verdict has made it clear that a probe is not needed, says Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.
Sloganeering continues. House adjourned for the day.
Lok Sabha resassembles. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan informs the House that Peddapalli TRS MP Balka Suman has resigned and she has accepted his resignation.
Ms. Mahajan also informs the House that she has received privilege notices from some members and it is under consideration.
The BJP members continue to raise slogans. Some Congress members raise counter-slogans.
Slew of protests
The BJP members have been demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi after the Supreme Court denied a probe into the Rafale deal.
The AIADMK members are protesting against the proposed dam at Mekadatu in Karnataka.
The TDP,too, held placards inside the House demanding special category status to Andhra Pradesh.
Before adjourning the House, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu instructed that the protests should not be telecast and the sloganeering must be expunged from official records.
The Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises is the de-facto protest location for several parties. Today, members of Trinamool Congress protested on various issues such as agrarian crisis, unemployment and so on.
The AIADMK members were protesting against the Centre's decision to accept Karnataka's proposal to construct a dam across Cauvery river in Mekadatu.
After the usual practice of tabling papers, reports and statements by various members listed against their names, the Chairman proceeds to Zero Hour.
Vijaypal Singh Tomar begins to speak about setting up a new High Court Bench in Uttar Pradesh. His speech is cut short.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad wants the House to take up privilege motion. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Goel claims Congress is running away from the debate. Treasury bench demands an apology from Congress.
AIADMK members troop the Well raising slogans. House is adjourned till 2 pm.
SAD member Prem Singh Chandumajra speaks during Question Hour in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Lok Sabha proceedings begin. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is in the Chair. She proceeds with Question Hour. Members from treasury bench raise slogans demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi.
Questions are being raised on procurement of garlic. As members raise to pose their questions, they are being surrounded by BJP members with placards. AIADMK members are also raising slogans in Tamil against the Narendra Modi government.
House is adjourned till 12 noon.
Rajya Sabha proceedings begin. Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu is in the Chair. He says he admits the notices on "first come first serve" basis.
Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday after the AIADMK members protested against what they claimed as partisan treatment meted to Tamil Nadu. Today, Mr. Naidu appeals to the members of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to have peaceful conduct of the House and he is willing to allow a discussion on Mekadatu dam.
Bills for consideration in Rajya Sabha
The National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018
The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
Bills for consideration in Lok Sabha
The National Institute of Design (Amendment) Bill, 2018
The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2018.
The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018.
