Parliament logjam continues for 13th day
DH News Service, New Delhi, Mar 21 2018, 21:44 IST
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan speaks during the second phase of the Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Wednesday. PTI Photo
Parliament proceedings remained paralysed for the 13th consecutive day on Wednesday as members of the AIADMK, TDP, YSRCP and TRS were unrelenting in their protests over different issues.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the proceedings for the day within minutes of its assembly amid demands by Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad for a discussion on the Supreme Court ruling on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Lok Sabha witnessed similar scenes and Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the Question Hour and later called off the proceedings for the day citing her inability to assess the support to the no-confidence motion moved by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) amid din.
Mahajan said she is unable to do a headcount of 50 members supporting the motion, a pre-requisite for taking up the notices for the trust vote, as placards held by the protesting MPs were apparently blocking her view.
In the Rajya Sabha the members of Tamil Nadu parties – Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) – too walked into the Well demanding immediate constitution of the Cauvery Water Management Board for river water sharing between their state and Karnataka.
Congress members joined them in the Well shouting slogans against the government.
Barring the passage of the Budget by the Lower House without any debate, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have not transacted any substantial business since the Budget Session of Parliament resumed on March 5.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the proceedings for the day within minutes of its assembly amid demands by Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad for a discussion on the Supreme Court ruling on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Lok Sabha witnessed similar scenes and Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the Question Hour and later called off the proceedings for the day citing her inability to assess the support to the no-confidence motion moved by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) amid din.
Mahajan said she is unable to do a headcount of 50 members supporting the motion, a pre-requisite for taking up the notices for the trust vote, as placards held by the protesting MPs were apparently blocking her view.
In the Rajya Sabha the members of Tamil Nadu parties – Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) – too walked into the Well demanding immediate constitution of the Cauvery Water Management Board for river water sharing between their state and Karnataka.
Congress members joined them in the Well shouting slogans against the government.
Barring the passage of the Budget by the Lower House without any debate, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have not transacted any substantial business since the Budget Session of Parliament resumed on March 5.