Parliament proceedings were again disrupted on Friday as AIADMK, TDP and Congress members protested over various issues and the two Houses were adjourned for the day without transacting any substantial business. This was the 8th consecutive day of disruption of proceedings in the Parliament. Both the houses would now meet on December 27 as there would be no session on December 24 and December 26 in view of Christmas.
Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day around 12.15 pm as AIADMK, TDP and Congress members protested over various issues.
As soon as the Zero Hour began in the lower house, they trooped into the Well, displaying placards and shouting slogans. Members from the AIADMK protested against proposed construction of a dam across Cauvery river and they also shouted slogans in Tamil.
While TDP members sought to raise issues related to Andhra Pradesh, those from the Congress demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal. As the ruckus continued, the House was adjourned for the day. Earlier, the proceedings were adjourned till noon following protests.
When the House met for the day, there were no protests by Congress members who had been persistently attacking the Government on the Rafale jet deal and demanding a JPC probe into the issue.
As soon as the House took up question hour, AIADMK members rushed to the Well holding placards and raising slogans opposing construction of a dam over Cauvery.
They were joined by members from the Telugu Desam Party who were demanding various sops for Andhra Pradesh. Some of the Aam Aadmi Party members also joined AIADMK and TDP. They were holding placards denouncing sealing, apparently in Delhi.
As Minister Sripad Naik was answering a question on the Ayush Ministry, some members in the Well hurled torn pieces of paper on the table where the Lok Sabha secretariat officials sit during proceedings. At this, Speaker Mahajan adjourned proceedings till noon. But the House was adjourned for the day soon after it reassembled again.
Similar scenes were witnessed in Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha was initially adjourned till 2.30 pm as two Tamil parties — the AIADMK and DMK — continued their protest over the Cauvery issue, while the Opposition Congress and treasury benches sparred over the Rafale jet deal.
Soon after listed papers and reports were tabled, AIADMK and DMK members trooped into the well of the House. Members of AAP were also seen in the well carrying placards, demanding an end to the sealing drive in the national capital. Meanwhile, Naidu asked senior Congress leader Anand Sharma to put forward his views. Sharma also said that his party was ready to discuss the issue of purchase of Rafale jets from French company Dassault but the Government should agree for a probe into the deal by a JPC.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Goel said the government is ready to discuss all issues including Rafale but the “Opposition is running away”. The Chairman later adjourned the House till 2.30 pm. When the House reconvened, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad raised the issue of President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir and Government’s move to allow 10 agencies to intercept information on computers. Not happy with Government’s response on snooping issue, opposition shouted slogans, leading to the adjournment of the house for the day.
Meanwhile, the Speaker on Friday said self-discipline is expected from representatives of people and asserted it is responsibility of all to ensure that the House functions. Mahajan chaired the Lok Sabha’s Rules Committee which deliberated upon smooth functioning of the House.