Both Houses of Parliament adjourned for the 19th consecutive day on Tuesday as uproarious scenes and noisy protests continued with the AIADMK occupying the Well demanding early constitution of the Cauvery water management board.
The ruckus saw the first adjournment of Lok Sabha proceedings within four minutes after it assembled to take up the day’s business and then for the day at noon after listed papers were laid and Home minister Rajnath Singh made a statement on Monday’s bandh called to protest “dilution” of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Even before the House re-assembled at noon, AIADMK members, carrying placards trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans such as “We want justice” and “We demand Cauvery board.”
Citing Assembly polls in Karnataka, the Centre had last week sought more time from the Supreme Court to set up the Cauvery water management board to implement water sharing formula among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. Congress, NCP, Left, TDP and RJD members were standing at their seats seeking the Speaker’s ruling on notices they had given on no-confidence motion, moved by some.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan appealed to AIADMK members to return to their seats, saying she cannot take up notices on the no-confidence motion unless the House is in order. “I am duty bound to place the no-confidence motion. I am sorry. Please go to your seats. I have to do a head count. I have not been able to take up notices on the no-confidence motion,” she said.
Congress Chief Whip Jyotiraditya Scindia said the Opposition wanted a discussion on the no-confidence motion and 50 members were ready for it. “We also want to discus the dilution of the SC/ST Act,” he said. At this, Parliamentary Affairs minister Ananth Kumar said the government was ready for a discussion and give reply to the no-confidence motion.
“We want discussion. For the last 15 days we have been saying we want discussion. It is the Congress which is preventing the discussion. The Congress is trying to stall democracy, which is not acceptable. We are ready for discussion,” he said.
As the pandemonium continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day soon after 41 new and re-elected members took oath as MPs from Congress and TMC, trooped into the Well raising slogans in support of their demands.
The Upper House has not transacted substantial business ever since 5 March after a recess to carry forward the Budget session due to disruptions by different parties on various issues like bank frauds, Cauvery, special status for Andhra Pradesh and Dalits. Congress member KVP Ramachandra Rao was also seen holding a placard demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh.
Soon after the new members took oath, the Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the proceedings amidst protests.
The government today made it clear that it was not responsible for the dilution of the SC/ST Act and asserted that it was fully committed to protect the interest of the backward communities and appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony.
Making a suo motu statement in Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour on the large scale violence during yesterday’s Bharat bandh, Home minister Rajnath Singh said there has been widespread anger amongst the people following the 20 March order of the Supreme Court.