No business was transacted in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, but the Parliament’s lawns are brimming with lawmakers holding placards protesting against a host of issues.
Telugu Desam Party MPs with their yellow sashes have become a permanent fixture on the lawns. Their star protestor Siva Prasad came dressed up as party founder N.T. Rama Rao on Tuesday.
YSR Congress members are protesting too. Four of their MPs were on the grounds demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh.
The Telegana Rashtriya Samiti MPs on the lawns are demanding an increase in Lok Sabha seats from the State.
TDP won't relent, protest on
Congress leaders led by party chief Rahul Gandhi too made their presence felt. The Congress is demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement in both the Houses on the banking scams that have happened under his charge. They want Mr. Modi to “break his silence” and come clean on the “bank loot involving designer jeweller Nirav Modi.”
The Congress MPs raised the slogans such as “Desh ka chowkidaar kahan gaya? So gaya, so gaya” (Where is the country’s watchman? He is asleep), an obvious swipe at the Prime Minister, who had claimed that he was the country’s watchman and would not allow corruption. Members of some Left parties joined them later.
Classical language status
Shiv Sena MPs on the lawns are demanding that the Centre declare Marathi a classical language. Currently six Indian language have been given this status — Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Odia.
In a rare display of bonhomie, AIADMK and DMK MPs stood together demanding the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board to resolve the water-sharing dispute.
