Parliament on Wednesday was adjourned without transacting much business after the Opposition stalled proceedings in both the Houses on a variety of issues including Rafale jet deal, Ram temple and Cauvery river water. However, the Rajya Sabha managed to pass the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities(Amendment)Bill amidst the din.
It was the second consecutive day when Parliament was adjourned after the winter session commenced on Tuesday. On the first day, both Houses were adjourned after paying homage to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and union minister Ananth Kumar.
On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day just after noon following protests by opposition members on various issues including the Rafale deal, construction of Ram Temple and Cauvery river water.
Immediately after the House was reconvened at noon, Congress, Shiv Sena, TDP and AIADMK members trooped into the well with placards and started shouting slogans in support of their demands.
Similar scenes were earlier witnessed when Question Hour began after obituary references to former MPs.
Congress members were demanding a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee into the alleged corruption in the Rafale aircraft deal while Shiv Sena MPs staged protests demanding immediate construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Members belonging to the AIADMK raised slogans demanding justice for Tamil Nadu farmers living along the Cauvery delta and TDP members demanded a railway zone at Vishkhapatnam. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to pacify members and finally adjourned the House for the day.
The Upper House was adjourned twice in the pre-lunch period and for the day around 2.15 pm as the two main political parties of Tamil Nadu -- the AIADMK and DMK -- staged protests on the Cauvery river issue. In fact, the AIADMK made its intentions clear right in the beginning after the proceedings began in the morning. The agitated members trooped into the well carrying placards reading “protect the lives of Cauvery Delta farmers.”
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu tried to pacify the members and first adjourned till noon at 11.10 am and then again till 2 PM soon after the Question Hour started at 12 pm. Earlier, Naidu said notices were received from several parties for discussion on issues of urgent importance. Though he had not allowed the issues to be raised under Rule 267 (suspension of business to take up a matter), all issues would be taken up for discussion, Naidu assured members.
As the two parties continued to protest, Naidu said only on Tuesday people in some states have shown their “confidence in democracy” and asked members to respect sentiments of the people.
Protests continued when the House met again at 2.00 PM. Amid noisy scenes, The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed. The proposed amendments entail fixing the term of the Chairperson of the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism and other Disabilities.
Moving the bill for consideration and passage, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot said a Chairperson could not be appointed even after several attempts since 2012 as a suitable candidate meeting the stringent selection criteria could not be found. Gehlot said the amendments will ease the procedure related to appointment of a Chairperson
“Opposition parties, including Trinamool, keen to discuss all issues in #Parliament We want Parliament to run and hold this Govt accountable. However, BJP fielding its 'ally' from TamilNadu to disrupt proceedings,” tweeted Derek O' Brien, Trinamool Congress' Parliamentary Party leader in the Rajya Sabha with a hashtag 'MatchFixing' peeved over the adjournments.