The Opposition continued to stall proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament for the second consecutive day on Thursday raising various issues, including alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal, construction of Ram temple and Cauvery river water. While the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day shortly after it met for the day, the Lok Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments before it was finally adjourned for the day.
Thursday was the third day of the Winter Session. While on day one, both the Houses were adjourned after paying obituary to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Union Minister Ananth Kumar and some sitting members, the second day on Wednesday saw protests by the Opposition. While the Lok Sabha was adjourned without transacting much business, the Rajya Sabha had passed a Bill amid noisy scenes.
The Upper House on Thursday was adjourned for the day without transacting any business following protests by Tamil Nadu parties inside the Well over the Cauvery river issue. No sooner had the House paid its respects to the nine persons who laid down their lives 17 years back when terrorist attacked the Parliament House complex and the listed papers presented, members belonging to the AIADMK and DMK trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans about Cauvery issue. Some members from Andhra Pradesh also came into the well demanding special status for the State.
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu tried to pacify the members. However, they did not relent forcing Naidu to observe “I would like to urge members to at least allow the House today...9 persons had laid down their lives to protect Parliament. Wrong message will go,” he said. He later adjourned the proceedings till Friday at about 11.10 am
The Lok Sabha also witnessed repeated adjournments. The House was adjourned twice in the Question Hour. It was later adjourned for the day during Zero Hour where only two members got a chance to speak.
Besides Opposition members, ruling BJP’s ally Shiv Sena also held protests in the House demanding law for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. As the protests continued, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked members to allow the House to function but in vain. The House was then adjourned for the day.
Earlier, as soon as the Question Hour began after paying tributes to martyrs of the 2001 Parliament attack, members from the Congress, TDP and AIADMK rushed to the Well raising slogans, following which the Speaker adjourned the House.
TDP member Venkateshwara Rao (Babu) used a mike installed in the Well for the oath of a new member to prop up a poster seeking special status for Andhra Pradesh. A Lok Sabha secretariat staffer tried to convince him not to use the mike. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar too tried to convince him to keep down the mike. The TDP member’s action invited the ire of Speaker Sumitra Mahajan who warned him that he will be named. Once a member is named, he or she has to leave the House chamber.