AIADMK members protest over Cauvery issue in Parliament (Express photo by Praveen Jain)
It appears the Parliament is heading towards a complete washout this budget session. After House proceedings resumed Monday, following a four-day break, Opposition members demanding resolution over two contentious regional issues have forced both Houses of Parliament to adjourn till tomorrow.
In the Lok Sabha, no business was transacted for the 18th consecutive day after AIADMK members trooped into the Well demanding early
constitution of the Cauvery water management board. The ruckus saw the adjournment of the proceedings for the first time within four minutes after it assembled and then for the day at noon after the listed papers were laid. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House till tomorrow. While in the Rajya Sabha, vociferous protests from Opposition members forced Chairman Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the House till tomorrow.
Repeated disruptions marred House proceedings in the last four weeks, with TDP members agitating for a special category status for Andhra Pradesh and AIADMK members raising the Cauvery water dispute.
As many as four no-confidence motions are pending before the Chair but they weren’t taken up due to the unrelenting protests inside both Houses. The Congress, TDP, YSR Congress and CPI(M) have filed notices for a no-confidence motion against the NDA government and regional parties like the TRS, DMK, TMC and others have extended their support to the motions. On Sunday, the AIADMK said it would not hesitate to file a no-confidence motion over the Cauvery dispute and demanded the Congress to back it. A no-confidence motion will only be allowed in the event of 50 or more Parliament members are signatories. The AIADMK has 37 members — 13 short of the required number.